ProTeam Arnaud De Lie ready for season opener in Bessèges: "I want to race"

Stage 1, with start and finish in Bellegarde, and stage 3, from and to Bessèges, are already on his list of achievements. In 2023, Arnaud De Lie celebrated victory twice in Étoile de Bessèges. That’s why many eyes will be on him again. This will be his first race of the season, after his start was postponed by a week as a precaution, following two crashes during training. "That was a good decision," acknowledges Arnaud De Lie on the eve of Étoile de Bessèges. "I had some trouble with my knee. On the day I was supposed to race in Spain last weekend, I only rode for 40 minutes. That was enough. My body wasn’t ready, and in that case, it’s better to wait and watch the race on TV. A week later, I am fully recovered. I feel a healthy sense of excitement—I want to race."

Bessèges has a strong start list this year, something De Lie is well aware of. "This is no longer a small race. So many big names are lining up here, with Mads Pedersen probably the biggest one for the first three stages. He won the first stage three years ago. I won it the year after. It suits me well, with a tough finish. Stage two will likely end in a bunch sprint—we have already reconned that one. And I’ve also marked stage three on my calendar. I may not be at 100% just yet, but I’m not far off either. More than anything, I just can’t wait to get going. Pinning on that first race number, reconnecting with the fans… Now, I just hope things go my way."