How the top talents fared in 2023: Arnaud De Lie on his way to becoming a classics hunter

After two years as a professional, Arnaud De Lie already has 19 victories to his name. More than a considerable proportion of the peloton achieves in an entire career. There is no question that the Belgian has long since made his breakthrough. But as his success grows, so do the demands - both his own and those of his surroundings.

>> He is the one to watch out for: Arnaud De Lie

That's why it was important for the 21-year-old to take the next step. And that was the first victory in a World Tour race in his second professional season with Team Lotto-Dstny. De Lie won the Grand Prix de Quebec in an uphill sprint and cheered exuberantly, aware of the significance.

Few duels with the big sprinters

Apart from the success in Canada, De Lie once again primarily took his victories in smaller races. His victory in the Grand Prix du Morbihan in May, his stage win in the Tour de Wallonie two months later and his success in the Circuit Franco-Belge at the end of September were all part of the Pro Series, all others were even lower ranked.

It is therefore difficult to assess how De Lie will fare in comparison with the top league of sprinters. Because the duels between the fast man from the Ardennes and his compatriots Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Tim Merlier (Soudal - Quick Step) or the also very young Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) from the Netherlands were a rarity. However, when they all took part in the Renewi Tour (formerly the Tour of Benelux), for example, De Lie was beaten by everyone on this list. It was a similar story at the Tour of Guangxi in October, the last World Tour race of the season, where he failed to finish on the podium.

De Lie better in one-day races than in tours

In any case, it seems that Arnaud De Lie wants to reserve his fast legs for classics and other one-day races. And that worked out quite well in 2023. Because even more prestigious than his victory in Quebec was De Lies second place in the spring at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Only Dylan van Baarle, winner of Paris-Roubaix the year before, was better.

Keyword Paris-Roubaix: Thanks to his good performances in the classics in the spring, including 7th place in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and 6th place in Dwars door Vlaanderen, De Lie also earned a star for the first time in the TOUR favourites preview for the Hell of the Northwhich he was ultimately unable to realise. Another attempt at Roubaix is not planned for 2024, but a first attempt at the Amstel Gold Race is.

Arnaud De Lie - decision pending

De Lie is also about to make his Grand Tour debut. Whether it will be the Tour de France or the Vuelta a Espana ultimately depends on the route of the Tour of Spain, which will be presented on 19 December.

Much more decisive than the question of whether De Lie will ride the Tour or the Vuelta, however, is the direction in which the Belgian will develop. He has several options. Will Arnaud De Lie become a classic sprinter who can hardly be beaten on the flat? Or will he continue to focus on the path he has apparently already chosen, as a fast man who is also good on hills and cobbles, in order to make a name for himself as a classics chaser? The coming season could shed some light on this.