ProTeam Arnaud De Lie sprints impressively to Belgian title

"I feel liberated, I really have no words for it," says an emotional Arnaud De Lie. "This is the most beautiful jersey in the peloton, and I get to wear it for a year. That's incredible. I really want to show off this jersey. Starting soon, next week, in the Tour de France."

Lotto Dstny lined up with no less than 20 riders at the start of this Belgian championship, and it didn't go unnoticed. Florian Vermeersch - who made his return in Zottegem after his thigh bone fracture - and new father Victor Campenaerts were in the breakaway for almost the entire day. That had free rein for a long time, and only 50 kilometers from the finish did the race really start, thanks to yet another attack from Campenaerts. He took off with Quinten Hermans, and the duo was only caught 5 kilometers from the finish line.

"Then we knew it would come down to a sprint," says De Lie. "I stayed calm throughout. My legs felt good, but my head was in a good place too. When your teammates come up to you during the race and say you're still looking good, it gives you wings. They had complete confidence in me, and that means a lot. The team did an enormous amount of work, and then there was that impressive lead-out. I was on Milan Menten's wheel. At the moment he moved aside, you know: you just have to go. I gave it everything and saw no one around me at the finish… That's when I knew I had won."

The tricolor comes after a difficult spring for Arnaud De Lie. He had to miss a large part of the season after being diagnosed with Lyme disease. "I struggled a lot mentally, but at the same time, I drew a lot of strength from it. A great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I'm going to enjoy this so much."

Picture: PhotoNews