On vacation depending on the Tour
”For us, the month of July has always been synonymous with the Tour de Franceremembers the eldest of the De Lie brothers, always friendly and available. About ten years ago, we even chose our vacations based on the Grande Boucle. I remember that we were in Annecy in 2009. There was a time (Editor’s note: won by Alberto Contador) and the start of the next day’s stage nearby. As our dad is crazy about cycling, he took the whole family (laughs).”
Out of 21 stages, we watched 18 or 19 on TV.
When the De Lies spent the summer on the farm, the Tour also punctuated the days. “Our typical day, during the start of the summer vacation, was very often the same: we went for a ride in the morning and then helped dad on the farm. And in the afternoon, as Dad was watching the Tour de France, we sat in front of the television with him. Out of 21 stages, I must admit that we saw 18 or 19. We stopped working on the farm for the Tour. The afternoons of the stage were off!”
Gilbert, Cancellara and… Thomas De Gendt
The idols of the moment are Philippe Gilbert, Fabian Cancellara and the Schleck brothers. “But I remember we also liked a guy like Tony Martinsays Axel. And when a rider like Thomas De Gendt took the morning breakaway, we were all behind him. This fascinated us. We often took the side of a runner, just to make the afternoon even more exciting.”
guillementWe must consider the Tour as a race like any other.
Memories, anchored in family memory, which resurface with emotion at the moment when the Bull of Lescheret discovers the Tour de France. “It’s every rider’s dream to take part in this race, which is reserved for only the elite. Getting into the professional peloton is one thing, but once you’re there, you realise how difficult it is to be among the eight selected for the Tour.”
Tour de France: Arnaud De Lie and Maxim Van Gils will lead the Lotto Dstny selection
But in recent months, Arnaud De Lie has achieved so many milestones that the Grande Boucle fits into a certain logic. “We are super happy for him that he is selected but we have to consider it as a race like any other.”
With family on the side of the road to support Arnaud
Even if the Tour does not pass in Belgium or nearby this year, we will see the De Lie family on the side of the roads. “My parents will be on the Colombey-les-Deux-Églises stage then that of Troyes – with the white paths – during the second weekend, for the eighth and ninth stages. It’s less than four hours from home by car and we say to ourselves that these are profiles that could suit Arnaud.” Which makes at least two good reasons to make the trip.
guillementSteps eight and nine may be suitable for Arnaud.
And will Axel take a little detour through the Tour? “In general, my brother doesn’t come to see me at my races and I don’t go to see him at his, because we both have our races at the same time. But my girlfriend signed up for the Marmotte, a cycling tour which ends at Alpe d’Huez on June 29. With a few friends, she stays there to see the Tour pass, which will be in the region at that time. Maybe I’ll take the opportunity to join her and go riding in the Alps. But between going to the side of the road and watching on television, I will very often choose the second option: you can see the race much better.” And what’s more, this will allow him to take a little trip back to his childhood.
