Arnaud De Lie, winner of the Morbihan GP: “It proves that I am not just a sprinter”

On the rollers to eliminate toxins and find light legs in view of the Tro Bro Léon on Sunday, Arnaud De Lie appreciated having finally raised his arms in Brittany, in a region of which, on the morning of the race, he said he appreciated the landscapes. Late Saturday afternoon, the sprinter from Lotto-Dstny did not however go sightseeing on the Grand Prix du Morbihan which he won after a sprint at the top of the Côte de Cadoudal. Main headliner of the ninth stage of the Coupe de France with Alexander Kristoff, the Belgian from Libramont lived up to expectations, all in power, and confirmed his successes at the start of the season at the Grand Prix de Valence and two stages on the ‘Star of Bessèges.

“Does it feel good to win again?
Yes, it’s a great pleasure because behind there is teamwork. I am very proud of this victory, my first in Brittany. I often came very close to victory (4th at the Tro Bro Léon last year) and it feels good to raise your arms here.

Was it the team’s plan to padlock the race to arrive at the sprint at the top of the Cadoudal hill?
Not especially. Uno-X (with its leader Alexander Kristoff) took matters into his own hands quickly, which did our thing. But we had a strong team and Jarne Van de Paar stayed by my side all the time, he managed all the Cadoudal climbs well. The last bump, we controlled, Brent Van Moer followed the blows, we blocked and the objective was to get into the bump in the first five, I was third. (Jasper) De Buyst was perfect then and I pulled away to take the victory. It was difficult today, we climbed the bumps very quickly but in my team, the strongest followed the blows, my other teammates stayed next to me and we came back on the descent. In fact, I only ridden Cadoudal once (the last)unlike the others which jerked.

I was pumped for the whole bump but when I saw the line I was still able to stand up.

With this victory at the top of a hill, you add a string to your bow?
Yes, because it’s still a bump of more than two minutes. We know that it’s not the real sprinters who win here. It proves that I’m not just a sprinter. I was pumped for the whole bump but when I saw the line I was still able to stand up. In the end, I don’t know how I pushed, it must not have looked like much anymore (smiles).

Before the race, you said you preferred to win the Tro Bro Léon on Sunday…
It’s not just me tomorrow (Sunday) who can win, the whole team was very strong today. Tomorrow is another race in line, a bit of a cl***ic, you really have to know it well and run well.

Do you have any juice left?
Yes, of course, since I only ridden Cadoudal once, with toxin. »