“We arrived at Lotto-Dstny the same year, in 2022, and it immediately worked well between us, we quickly got along well. He generally speaks to me in Dutch and I speak to him in French. is still like that today.” In the peloton, heading into the home stretch, they try to understand each other without speaking.
gullArnaud has a strong character! But I prefer that to a leader who doesn't say things.
Is it easy to have Arnaud De Lie as leader? “Non ! he replies without a shadow of hesitation. His answer surprises us. For what ? Arnaud, he has a strong character. He's a character. He is always honest, whether the job was done well or poorly done. He says things. He never hides his opinion, he is frank and direct! I prefer that to a leader who keeps everything to himself, who internalizes before gradually releasing the reproaches. I'm here to help him. In the race, if he is satisfied with my work, my goal is achieved. If it didn't work, it's important that we discuss it. I can question myself, understand what went wrong. Even though I may not have the same point of view. But there is always discussion, understanding. You should know that a lead-out in a sprint is not easy. It's a bit like a game of chess, but at a much faster speed! Make the decision in no time to go left or right, think or feel what others are going to do…”
This year, Arnaud De Lie was not always satisfied with his train, like at the Tour de France or the Renewi Tour. “We sometimes had to look for each other, yes, it's true. Like at the Tour de France. It was a discovery for us. It was sometimes difficult to find each other. It was stressful, Arnaud was also a little stressed and I think I wanted to do too well. But we've had a good talk about it since.”
With the desire to improve this for 2025, for what will be their fourth season together at Lotto. A season that Cédric Beullens began preparing after the cycling promotion tour in Asia (he only did Singapore, not Saitama), set up by the Tour de France, which he appreciated. “It's very fun to participate in this experience and I find it important for our sport: if cycling wants to continue to develop, it also needs to expand into Asia, to attract possible new sponsors from these regions. . The group of runners present was also very nice.”
Golf with Brent Van Moer and supporter of FC Mechelen
What is his specific job on Arnaud De Lie's train? “I am often the penultimate man, answers Cédric Beullens, who, in his free time, likes to go support FC Mechelen at the stadium, or play golf with Brent Van Moer. (“This activity is really the opposite of a lead-out…”) And the last one when Jasper De Buyst, who has enormous experience, is not there.”
In addition to his work on the sprints, Cédric Beullens loves being present on the Flandrian classics. “I am a real Flemishhe slips into a smile. My dream race is Paris-Roubaix. It was actually a big disappointment last season, because I was in the good group with Mathieu van der Poel. In the sector in which he attacked, I unfortunately fell. Without that, I think I could have finished in the Top 10. I hope to be good again for this period. In Arnaud's block, who has the legs to win a great one.”
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