A cloud of uncertainty looms over Arnaud De Lie’s season debut following an unfortunate domestic incident that resulted in an ankle injury. The talented rider from Lotto-Intermarché is determined to bounce back and kick off 2026 on a strong note, despite this unexpected setback.
After facing a tough first half of 2025 marked by injuries and illness, De Lie experienced a remarkable turnaround towards the end of the season, achieving notable successes. However, just as he was building momentum, he encountered another hurdle when he injured his ankle after a fall down the stairs at home during the holiday period.
At the recent Lotto-Intermarché team launch, it was clear that De Lie was still in recovery mode, sporting a leg splint. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism about resuming full training soon and returning to competitive racing, albeit with some anticipated delays.
During the team launch, amid reports of various behind-the-scenes challenges related to the merger of Intermarché and Lotto, De Lie's sense of relief that the new team was operational was evident. While the ankle injury is indeed a setback, the overall outlook remains positive for the young sprinter.
"Typically, I’d be gearing up for the Clásica Almería on February 15 and then participating in the Volta ao Algarve from February 18-22, but those events aren’t my primary focus right now," he stated, indicating a strategic approach to his recovery and racing schedule.
De Lie is eager to ensure that he is in peak condition for the Opening Weekend races, having previously secured an impressive second-place finish at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2023 despite crashing. Following that, he aims to compete in prestigious events such as Tirreno-Adriatico, Ronde van Brugge, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, and is particularly looking forward to his long-awaited debut at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
Looking ahead, plans for the second half of the season are also taking shape. He is set to participate in the Tour de France, followed by the Canadian Classics, where he triumphed in Québec in 2023, and hopefully, the World Championships as well.
In the midst of these developments, another promising talent from Belgium, De Lie’s teammate and rookie pro Jarno Widar, has been identified as a potential participant in the Vuelta a España. The 2025 Under-23 European Road Champion is expected to race alongside De Lie at the Volta ao Algarve—if De Lie is fit to compete—before concentrating on the Ardennes Classics. Although the Giro d'Italia is no longer in consideration for him, a spot in Spain's Grand Tour this coming August remains a possibility.
With a wealth of experience covering cycling since 1991, reporter Alasdair Fotheringham has observed every Tour de France since 1992, aside from one, along with numerous other cycling events, including the 2008 Olympic Games and the now-defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. In addition to his work with Cyclingnews, Fotheringham has contributed articles to The Independent, The Guardian, ProCycling, The Express, and Reuters.
