Arnaud De Lie, the reigning champion of the Renewi Tour, has withdrawn from the final stage of the 2026 edition due to respiratory illness. The Belgian sprinter, who had been experiencing upper respiratory symptoms since the previous day, developed bronchitis overnight, prompting his team, Lotto-Intermarché, to announce his non-participation in the concluding stage around Leuven. (wielerkrant.be)
De Lie’s withdrawal follows a challenging fourth stage on Saturday, where he lost over six minutes after sacrificing his position to assist teammate Jenno Berckmoes. Despite his efforts, Berckmoes lost the leader’s jersey, and Jasper Philipsen claimed the stage victory, overtaking Berckmoes in the general classification by four seconds. (asatunews.co.id)
This season has been particularly tough for De Lie, who also faced early exits from the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia due to illness. In his final season with Lotto-Intermarché, he had secured victories at the Famenne Classic and a stage of the Tour de Wallonie. Looking ahead, De Lie is set to join Swiss ProTeam Tudor in 2027 on a long-term deal lasting until the end of 2030. (cyclingnews.com)
As De Lie focuses on recovery, his Lotto-Intermarché teammates, including Berckmoes, will continue to compete in the remaining stages of the Renewi Tour, aiming to secure a strong finish in the race.
Highlights:
- Leading sprinter and Classics specialist Arnaud De Lie confirms signing with Tudor until end of 2030, Published on Monday, August 17
- Renewi Tour: Jenno Berckmoes pulls off a heist to snatch stage 3 and the leader’s jersey on Tour of Flanders-inspired day, Published on Friday, August 21