Giro 2026: Arnaud De Lie trains again with teammates after illness

Lotto-Intermarché can breathe a sigh of relief. At least, that seems to be the case now that Arnaud De Lie is training again with his teammates. The Walloon leader was ill leading up to the Giro d'Italia and therefore missed the team presentation on Wednesday evening.

Earlier this week, De Lie did travel with his teammates to the start of the Giro in Bulgaria, but he suffered from stomach flu symptoms on the plane. The strong sprinter was one of the victims of a stomach flu outbreak at the Famenne Ardenne Classic, caused by cow manure. This even cost Liam Slock a spot in the Giro and later forced Milan Menten to withdraw as well.

De Lie decided to skip the team presentation on Wednesday as a precaution. "Like many others, Arnaud got sick after the Famenne Ardennes Classic. Some riders even ended up in the hospital. Arnaud is here in Bulgaria, but not at the presentation. We hope he starts feeling better ahead of the start on Friday," team director Maxime Bouet updated for the camera of Cycling Pro Net.

Fortunately for De Lie and Lotto-Intermarché, it looks like a close call. Footage shared by the team on X shows the leader training again with his teammates. Menten and Joshua Gidding (Slock’s replacement)—who were also absent from the team presentation yesterday—were also present in training.

Giro team complete 💓 pic.twitter.com/skpXZ3FqIz

— Lotto-Intermarché (@LottoIntermarch) May 7, 2026

It remains to be seen if De Lie will be able to contest the sprint for the first pink jersey on Friday. The opening Giro stage on Bulgarian soil is mostly flat and suited for the fast men. If De Lie is indeed fit enough to defend his sprint chances, he will have to contend with the likes of Jonathan Milan, Dylan Groenewegen, and Paul Magnier.