Arnaud De Lie is the highest favorite for tomorrow’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad who gained’t be sporting a Visma-Lease a Bike jersey and believes the Dutch workforce’s undoing might be the very factor making them heavy favourites – their a number of leaders.
The 21-year-old is hoping to disrupt the superteam assembled by Visma-Lease a Bike that options the final two Omloop winners Wout van Aert and Dylan van Baarle; alongside Christophe Laporte, the in-form Jan Tratnik, Tiesj Benoot, Matteo Jorgenson and Edoardo Affini.
It’s one of many most interesting cobbled Classics groups ever seen, with six of the seven seen as potential winners and Affini the one particular rider set for domestique work.
“Visma-Lease a Bike is one of the best workforce on the earth. Check out all the large names beginning,” stated De Deceive Het Nieuwsblad after stating Tratnik as his favorite for the day.
“It is as much as them to take management of the course and guess on the precise horse. In the event that they play poker by repeatedly taking pictures one arrow after one other, they will additionally shoot themselves within the foot.”
The rising Belgian star was second finally yr’s race after a superhuman efficiency that noticed him energy up the Muur van Geraardsbergen, make it into the lead group of 4 chasers, solely to get caught however nonetheless win the bunch dash behind winner Van Baarle. All of the whereas with a bloodied knee after crashing 50km from the road.
It was the affirmation of De Lie’s potential and a warning to the peloton {that a} new Classics star was within the making. He’s now able to take victory, by any means vital.
“It is not vital how I win. So long as I win,” stated De Lie. “It might even be a teammate, that is simply pretty much as good.
“The Molenberg is the primary key second of the day. From there, you need to be within the entrance. If I’m nonetheless there on the entrance after the Bosberg, many individuals might begin to get scared.”
De Lie took his maiden WorldTour victory in 2023 on the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and has grow to be the long-term Belgian squad’s most vital rider.
He’ll trip an intensive Classics marketing campaign in 2024 earlier than driving his first Tour de France in the summertime. However De Lie is aware of he has time. Not wavering underneath the strain positioned on him by Belgian media with the information that he can merely strive once more subsequent yr if all else fails.
“There’s loads of strain, however I do not really feel that manner. I do know what I can do,” stated De Lie.
“If it really works, it really works. If it would not work on Saturday, then one other time. It is not like I’ve one yr left in my profession and I have not gained something but.”
Het Nieuwsblad additionally reported that De Lie had been at altitude for 20 days, coaching at Mount Teide in Tenerife earlier than making his season debut in Spain.
The three races he has accomplished up to now this season have been lacklustre by his constant requirements with two DNFs and a fourth place on the Clasica de Almeria, however once more De Lie confirmed maturity past his age, unphased by the “poor” begin.
“After all, I might have most popular to win already. The shape was not nice,” he stated. “However who will bear in mind in a number of months that I used to be dangerous in [Clásica] Jaén.”
De Lie has moved on rapidly from his time within the Spanish solar, ready to get caught into some cobbled racing with typical Belgian climate on his want checklist for Opening Weekend.
“I am trying ahead to the introduced dangerous climate,” stated De Lie. “That makes the race tougher for the others. And never for me.”
