De Lie takes first win of the season just in time for the Giro

Arnaud De Lie has had another topsy-turvy spring with a real mix of results offsetting a persistent favourite status on home terrain. While fourth at In Flanders Fields was not to be sniffed at, his best result before this weekend was at Tirreno-Adriatico where only Tobias Lund Andresen was faster in a field that included Jasper Philipsen, Jonathan Milan and Paul Magnier, but the win drought continued until this weekend's Famenne Ardennes Classic.

It's certainly not the biggest win of his career, but it's an important morale booster with the Giro d'Italia next on his programme – albeit not the whole race; his team has said he'll only stay a week to 10 days before saving himself for the summer.

"This is indeed a confidence boost," De Lie told Sporza. " Milan Menten, my lead-out for the Giro, also delivered today. Just like the whole team. We had already crossed the finish line four times, so I knew the wind was blowing against us there and I had to wait until the last moment."

Lotto Famenne Ardennes Classic Top 5

1. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarché) 4:26:26
2. Jens Verbrugghe (NSN Development Team) st.
3. Matteo Moschetti (Pinarello-Q36.5) st.
4. Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Premier Tech) st.
5. Milan Menten (Lotto-Intermarché) st.