Famenne Ardenne Classic: Arnaud De Lie bags his first win of 2026 amid thrilling last-gasp breakaway catch

Arnaud De Lie secured his first victory of the 2026 season at the Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic, delivering a powerful uphill sprint to claim the win. The 24-year-old Belgian, who had been struggling with form earlier in the year, demonstrated his resilience and sprinting prowess to take his third triumph in the last four editions of this one-day Belgian race. De Lie crossed the line ahead of Jens Verbrugghe and Matteo Moschetti, who completed the podium. The race was marked by a dramatic finale, as a breakaway trio consisting of Ryan Gal, Filippo d'Aiutio, and Maxence Place managed to stay clear for most of the 186km course. Despite their advantage of around 20 to 30 seconds with just a few kilometres remaining, the leading riders hesitated to fully commit to the sprint, allowing the peloton to close the gap. Lotto-Intermarché, De Lie’s team, had done much of the work earlier but left the chase to other teams in the closing stages. In the final kilometre, the tension mounted as the breakaway’s lead diminished, with the Unibet-Rose Rockets team setting a fierce pace from behind. De Lie positioned himself expertly behind their sprinter Joren Bloem before launching his decisive attack just 100 metres from the finish. His timing and strength proved impeccable, enabling him to overtake the breakaway riders mere metres from the line and secure a convincing victory. This win marks a significant turnaround for De Lie, who had faced a challenging start to the season. It also highlights the tactical complexity of the race, where teamwork, timing, and endurance played crucial roles in the outcome. With this performance, De Lie reasserts himself as a formidable contender in the Belgian racing scene, setting a promising tone for the remainder of the season.