Arnaud De Lie's long wait for Tour of Flanders debut continues

Arnaud De Lie has endured a difficult relationship with the Classics over the years, and that sequence looks set to continue with the news that he will not be fit enough to participate in the Tour of Flanders.

The Belgian placed fourth at Gent-Wevelgem last weekend, marking his best result in a cobbled Classic since he took a precocious second at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad back in 2023. 

De Lie had never managed to deliver on that promise, and his last two Spring campaigns had ended after Gent-Wevelgem due to illness and poor form. In Wevelgem on Sunday evening, De Lie expressed hope that this time the race would mark the true beginning of his Classics campaign. 

It wasn't to be. De Lie lined up for Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday, but was forced to withdraw early on due to illness. Although De Lie recovered sufficiently to join his Lotto-Intermarché teammates on their recon of the Tour of Flanders route, his team subsequently confirmed that he would miss the race for the fifth straight year.

"Arnaud De Lie will not race Tour of Flanders. He was forced to abandon Dwars door Vlaanderen last Wednesday due to illness. Although he did a recon of the course this morning together with his coach, it became clear to Arnaud that he has not recovered sufficiently to compete at 100% in such a demanding 278-kilometre race as Flanders’ Finest," read the statement from Lotto-Intermarché.

"Arnaud is being closely monitored by the medical and performance staff to ensure he can prepare as well as possible for Paris-Roubaix and be fully ready for that goal. We wish him a speedy recovery."

In De Lie's absence, Lotto's Ronde line-up will be composed of Toon Aerts, Jenno Berckmoes, Cedric Beullens, Vito Braet, Sébastien Grignard, Jonas Rutsch and Luca Van Boven.