ProTeam De Lie sprints to sixth place in rainy Tour de Wallonie stage

In the second stage of the Tour de Wallonie, the peloton travelled 192 kilometres from Jodoigne to Libramont-Chevigny. The riders had to battle heavy rain throughout the day and a tricky uphill finishing straight.

“Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe still had four riders at the front with 400 metres to go and I was perfectly positioned on Jordi Meeus’ wheel,” De Lie reflected. “Then I realised I was about to get boxed in by two riders in front of me. The bunch was moving from left to right and I just managed to avoid a crash. I still don't really understand how I managed to stay on my bike. It's a shame because I really had good legs.”

After being forced to interrupt his sprint, De Lie had to accelerate again and eventually crossed the line in sixth place. While he was not entirely satisfied with the result, he drew confidence from his sensations during the stage. “Of course, I had hoped for more, but that's racing. I remain positive because the legs felt good. The result may not have been what I was hoping for, but it was once again a real cycling celebration here in Libramont, where I grew up. It’s always a pleasure to see so many fans.”

De Lie will get another opportunity straight away in stage three. The route stays entirely within the province of Luxembourg and even passes by his home. “Tomorrow is another opportunity. It's a 100% Luxembourg stage that passes by my house and finishes in Vaux-sur-Sûre, the village where I live. It's very rare to experience something like that during your career. I know there are some nice things planned at home as well, so it should be a great afternoon.”

Photo: PhotoNews