Arnaud De Lie wins Heistse Pijl
Young Lotto Soudal sprinter out-paces Nizzolo, Cavendish
![Arnaud de Lie (Lotto Soudal)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3VarihAL2aAjoTMZprJBQG-320-80.jpg)
20-year-old Arnaud De Lie claimed his fifth win of his neo-pro season, taking out the bunch sprint in the Heistse Pijl ahead of more established sprinters Giacomo Nizzolo (Israel-Premier Tech) and Mark Cavendish (Quickstep-AlphaVinyl).
The Lotto Soudal rider timed his effort perfectly, sitting back as Nizzolo opened up the sprint then launching to victory.
"The field of participants was incredible today," De Lie said of the 1.1-ranked event. "Cavendish and Nizzolo are two riders who have already earned their stripes in the Grand Tours. That's why this win really is a new step in my career for me. That Cavendish didn't know my name? Now (laughs). It is very nice when the best sprinter of the last fifteen years gets to know you - [I have] so much respect for them both.”
Cavendish, caught behind a split in the final series of turns, had to make up ground but was too late and had to settle for third.
"It's a little disappointing after the guys worked so hard all day," Cavendish said. “You saw on the last lap that we were where we wanted to be before the cobblestone climb. My chain came off on the descent. It wasn't the first time this year that it happened. I lost positions trying to get it back on."
Results powered by First Cycling
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/j0riqebpsw1715769462.png)
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/j0riqebpsw1715769462.png)
Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Matteo Moschetti hospitalised with multiple fractures after being hit by truck driver
Italian suffers fractured collarbone, two neck vertebrae fractures, and cuts and nerve damage in his face after incident on Tuesday -
Stock shortages, equipment registration and the latest marginal gains - Talking Olympic Games track tech with the Dutch head mechanic
Chatting 200 psi tubulars, track air pressure sensors and the need to win ahead of the Paris Olympic games next month -
Van Rysel RCR review: It cements the brand amongst the big players, but is it actually that good value?
A true performance machine from the budget brand, but the bike doesn't offer the value the brand name suggests -
Cofidis issues statement after Guillaume Martin blames weight of Look bike for Cofidis' poor Tour de France
'I don’t want to make my bike even heavier with a 200-gram bike computer' says French climber