Cycling talent De Lie finds a striking explanation for his dip in form: Lyme disease | Cycling

The 22-year-old De Lie is considered an enormous talent. He won ten races last year, including the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec. Due to his qualities as a sprinter, De Lie can be considered the Belgian answer to Olav Kooij.

This year the engine suddenly malfunctioned. De Lie achieved top ten finishes in races such as Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Bredene Koksijde Classic, but mainly made the news when he scolded his team leader after a fall in Le Samyn.

Last weekend De Lie was not involved at all in E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem. That is why Lotto Dstny decided to change course: the young Belgian was removed from the selection for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, among others.

Now an explanation has been found for the remarkable dip in form: Lyme disease. This bacterial infection is usually transmitted by a tick bite. The disease can be treated with antibiotics.

It is not known when De Lie will fully recover. For the time being, the Tour of Switzerland (9-16 June) is the next race on his programme. It is also the intention that De Lie will make his debut in the Tour de France next summer.