After a reconnaissance on Monday of the main sectors, Arnaud De Lie pedaled this Friday approaching the first cobblestones, before Troisvilles. The Belgian from Lotto Dstny underlined in broad strokes the importance of positioning before the bumpy joys and the role that the wind can play in the vast agricultural plains of the North. If he discovers Hell with the pros, the twenty-one-year-old Walloon logically remains no less ambitious before attacking the second Monument of his young career.
Arnaud, you recognized the different cobbled sections, what did you learn from them?
I already knew they were shaking so recons, they’re also useful for anything between sectors. The holes, the bends, the placement they impose. There are a lot of details that you can’t see on TV and in this race it’s the little things that decide whether you’re ahead or not. When you are in the top ten to enter the sector, you can choose where to put the wheels. However, Paris-Roubaix is really putting your wheels in the right place.
You tested the dry pavement on Monday, a little more muddy this Friday. Which version do you prefer?
With what ambition will you discover Paris-Roubaix? Sonny Colbrelli won it two years ago, when the Italian was there for the first time, but few people achieve such a performance.
I think Roubaix is won with experience. As you say, it’s very rare to arrive and win it directly, on the first try. There are so many details that come into play, luck, knowledge of the course. On a Flandrienne, it’s already essential but here, you only pass once a year so you have to know everything by heart. So, I’m going there with the ambition of getting a good result. I’ll be happy when I give it my all. It’s not really a place that I’m aiming for but rather, on the velodrome, that I’m happy with my performance.
Is the morning break an option for you?
I felt, during reconnaissance, that we had a bit of the same wind as last year and Ineos took advantage of it to cause edges. We will have to remain vigilant, but for sure, this race is won with a head start. There are many examples in recent history. If a big group comes out, I’ll have to be with you. I must not be afraid.
Who do you think is the big favourite?
Matthew van der Poel. He says maybe it’s not the race that suits him the most, but he has a drive that no one else has in the peloton. He fell on stronger at the Tour of Flanders (Editor’s note: 2nd beaten by Tadej Pogacar, as a reminder) but I’m sure he wants to hang a third different Monument. It’s my big favourite.
Are there other runners that you pointed? Wheels to hold?
(Without hesitation). Yves Lampaert and Matej Mohoric. The Slovenian, last year, made a real number (Editor’s note: he left 110 km from the finish, finished 5th despite a puncture). And the Belgian is a race that always suits him well. These wheels, it will be necessary to keep an eye on them.
With what feeling will you disembark on Sunday, at the start in Compiègne?
I will be very excited to compete for the second Monument of my career. I love the warrior side of this race, the fact that it’s never lost. I think there will be a bit of apprehension in the first sector because I know they will be scrambling like crazy to get into position. We will therefore have to be directly in it and get out of a race as fair as possible, hoping to avoid bad luck as much as possible. It’s often the one who had the least and who had a great day who raises the pavement at the end.
No bad luck and, also, a solid dose of composure?
