Arnaud De Lie measures himself against Philipsen and Magnier in Algarve: "Good test for classics"

Arnaud De Lie experienced a somewhat troubled build-up to his first races of 2026 due to an ankle injury, but the Lotto-Intermarché leader is now free of all setbacks and has clear ambitions for the Volta ao Algarve.

"I feel good," De Lie began his interview for the camera of WielerFlits. "I had a solid race at the Clásica de Almería and I’m really happy to start here. The goal is to improve over the coming days, but also to get results and build confidence."

De Lie hopes to fine-tune his form on Portuguese soil ahead of the Flemish Opening Weekend. "The Omloop is one of the big targets for my spring season, but my first goal is to regain that good feeling," noted the 23-year-old Walloon.

In the Algarve, he will encounter fellow countryman Jasper Philipsen, among others. "It’s also Jasper’s first race. I’m not sure about his current form, but there are other sprinters like Magnier, Moschetti... It’s a strong start list and I see it as a great preparation for the classics."

"Training preparation is over now. It’s about race sharpness at this point. After this race, the focus is to remain calm heading into the Opening Weekend."