Arnaud De Lie blames organisation car for crash at 'sh*tty race'

Arnaud De Lie has blamed his race-ending crash at Le Samyn on the race organisation’s car, as he explained his angry outburst that saw him describe the Belgian semi-classic as a ‘shitty race’.

The Lotto Dstny rider was the heavy favourite for Tuesday’s race in southern Belgium but suffered a spate of mechanicals, and then crashed at speed when chasing back to the peloton with 30km remaining.

He slid out on a gentle right-hand bend, got to his feet and immediately started remonstrating, first with a car somewhere ahead, and then with his own team car, to which he opened the rear door in a brief indication of his desire to call it a day.

He then proceeded to shout at his team directors, with Belgian media widely picking up and reporting the comment: “What am I doing in such a shitty race?”.

Read more: Laurenz Rex awarded Le Samyn victory after premature celebration scare

De Lie remounted and launched one last futile chase but, despite burning riders off his wheel, found himself too far back with a lap of the finishing circuit remaining and decided to stop at his team bus and head for an early shower.

Once he reappeared, he spoke to the Belgian media to explain his version of events, claiming that the seemingly innocuous crash had been caused by the race director’s car slowing up through the bend. This was the car in front of the team car for Kern Pharma, which De Lie drew up alongside as he slid out.

“I don't know what possessed that man to slow down and almost stand still in that bend,” De Lie said.

“Okay, I arrived quickly – a little too fast, you might say – but if those cars keep the same speed, I can approach the bend better and I am guaranteed to stay upright. I am really convinced of that.”

The race organisation has not responded publicly but Lotto Dstny director Dirk Demol said he drove up to the director’s car to ask for answers. “But of course they didn't know anything about it. It wasn't their fault, so to speak, when really it is.”

The adrenaline had worn off De Lie by the time he was done with the day, but he still had a barbed comment for the race organisers.

“Thanks to those involved for stealing a victory from me,” he said, indicating his confidence that he’d have got back in and finished it off in the small group sprint that was won by Laurenz Rex (Intermarché-Wanty).

“Collectively we rode the perfect race, individually I was always where I should be. And I felt legs to win. If you see how the sprint goes, I think the chance of success would actually have been very high. Frustrating.”

De Lie reported that his injuries, including a worrisome bang to his right knee, were superficial, and now turns his attentions to Paris-Nice, a WorldTour level race that starts on Sunday.