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Ghent-Wevelgem: Pedersen wins in a two-man sprint against Van der Poel
The reason ? An anonymous 89th place this Sunday, after his 52nd place in the E3 Saxo Classic on Friday. Obviously disappointing results for the leader of the Belgian team and who was eagerly awaited in the Flandrian classics. However, for the moment he completely misses his subject. With, what’s more, a new fall at the start of the race this Sunday. It comes in addition to that on the GP Samyn and that during the GP Denain. And that’s starting to do a lot. “Arnaud fell, all alone, in a roundabout,” explains Stéphane Heulot, CEO of Lotto Dstny. We don’t really know if it’s a lack of concentration or bad luck. But what is certain is that when he left, his head was no longer necessarily there.”
Far from his goals: “We haven’t yet seen the real Arnaud this season”
Never on the right track, De Lie was left behind the main peloton as soon as the race got busy. And generally speaking, the Lotto Dstny team was transparent. Only Jasper De Buyst finished in the top 30, without ever weighing on the race, while Cédric Beullens and Brent Van Moer notably abandoned. The blow is tough, collectively. But inevitably, it is especially towards the leader that all eyes are turned. A leader who seems, for the first time, to have difficulty digesting the (great) pressure on his shoulders.
“We haven’t yet seen the real Arnaud since the start of the season,” analyzes Stéphane Heulot. We’re going through a complicated time and it’s not easy, especially for him. The classics were an important goal and there is bound to be disappointment. But we have to understand the situation as best we can. As I have often said: we win together and we lose together. We have had good times and now is not the time to dissociate ourselves. Now we have to bounce back.”
Stéphane Heulot, CEO of Lotto Dstny, after a superb start to the season: “It’s not just De Lie and we prove it”
His schedule could change: “We will discuss it with him”
This rebound will perhaps involve a change of program for Arnaud De Lie, who needs to regain confidence and pleasure above all. Given the circumstances, it seems complicated to send him on the Tour of Flanders next Sunday. And we can imagine that the Ardennese will have no desire to make up the numbers. Will it be aligned with Across Flanders, Wednesday, as planned? Nothing is less sure. “We must first identify the problem and then we will see if, in fact, the solution is to reorganize our calendar or not. We’ll see how he feels and what he wants. We’ll talk quietly with him. I think the problem is more mental than physical. The blows to the head have continued in recent weeks.”
Things are not going well at the moment for Arnaud De Lie. ©TSI
The first turbulent period of his young career: “But we will find him”
Accustomed to podiums and praise both among young people and during his first two seasons among professionals, the Taureau de Lescheret – who has still not raised his arms in 2024 – is currently experiencing the first big period of doubt in his career. And there is nothing abnormal in seeing a “22-year-old kid”, according to Heulot, experiencing more complicated times. The most important thing now is to learn the lessons from this period of turbulence, which could be foundational. It is in the way he gets up that we will see the true character of Arnaud De Lie. “We’re going to look for the real Arnaud and we’re going to find him,” finishes Stéphane Heulot, who is delighted to see his protégé again with a big smile on his face.
