De Lie set for Giro d'Italia debut in Lotto's first Italian Grand Tour since 2022

Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarché) was originally expected to focus on the Tour de France this summer, but the 24-year-old Belgian could ride two Grand Tours in a single season for the first time in his career.

According to Het Laatste Nieuws, De Lie is preparing to make his Giro d'Italia debut, combining the Italian Grand Tour with the Tour de France.

The former Belgian champion has ridden two Grand Tours in his career so far, the Tour in 2024 and 2025, and his best stage finish in each edition was 3rd place.

De Lie’s 2026 season has seen him ride the Classics alongside the Volta ao Algarve and Tirreno-Adriatico. A 4th place finish at Gent-Wevelgem stands out as the highlight result of the campaign so far for the Belgian. 

Notably, the Belgian had scored at least one victory at this stage in each of his previous seasons as a professional with, the exception of 2024. He currently remains winless in 2026.

He is next scheduled to line up at the Famennes Ardenne Classic on May 3, the race where he broke his drought in 2024.

De Lie's agent, David van der Poel, discussed the matter last week, indicating that the potential of a Giro debut remained on the cards. 

“A program is always drawn up based on an ideal scenario, and that is no longer the case today. So we have to reconsider,” Van der Poel told Nieuwsblad. “He has missed three weeks of training and needs to be built up again. Starting a Grand Tour without being one hundred percent fit makes no sense.”

While provisional start lists have not yet been finalised, De Lie will reportedly join teammate Lennert van Eetvelt at the Giro.

The duo have currently scored the 3rd and 4th most points for the Belgian team this season and have been key assets in recent seasons, with De Lie scoring the most points in each of the previous four seasons, while Van Eetvelt was also in the mix.

This year’s Giro also marks a return for the Belgian team, who have skipped the Italian Grand Tour since 2022, in order to focus on scoring UCI points at one-day races as they chased regaining WorldTour status.

Thomas De Gendt claimed victory on stage 8 in that edition, and the team will be hoping that De Lie or Van Eetvelt can make their mark in Italy, though there will be plenty of competition in the sprints.

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step), Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets) and Tobias Lund Andersen (Decathlon CMA CGM) are among of the top sprinters who De Lie could potentially come head-to-head with if the reports are true and the Belgian makes his debut at the Giro.

The 2026 Giro kicks off with the Grande Partenza in Bulgaria on May 8, with a stage that is expected to end in a sprint. Could De Lie be dreaming of the pink jersey? Only time will tell.