After winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Record Bank E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem this season, Greg Van Avermaet is targeting a fourth win on home soil when he lines up at the Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen) on Sunday.
Van Avermaet is embracing his position as the favorite following his three UCI WorldTour wins this season.
“My win on Sunday at Gent-Wevelgem was incredible and as I said then, I don’t think I can pretend that I’m not the favorite anymore for the Tour of Flanders. I’ve had the best start to the season possible and what gives me even more confidence is knowing that my favorite race, the race that suits me the most, is still to come,” Van Avermaet said.
“Lining up on Sunday will be a really special feeling. I know I’m the strongest I’ve ever been in Spring and this year the race passes my house. I say it every year; I know the roads so well, I train every day on the parcours, and this year I feel like it’s my turn. I’m going to race aggressively and I have seven riders completely dedicated to helping me win. There’s nothing more I can do to prepare. I’m ready.”
Sports Director Fabio Baldato said Van Avermaet’s string of victories puts him in the best-possible position.
“Greg has proved time and time again this year that he is strong, he is a champion. We know that every team will be looking at us on Sunday but when you have a leader as strong as Greg that doesn’t matter. Greg knows how to race, when to make a move, and as we have seen at Record Bank E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem, he can sprint against anyone at the end of a long, hard race,” Baldato explained.
“We will do everything possible to put Greg in a good position in the finale and let him do what he does best. I think the whole team is excited to race this Sunday, it’s the most important race for us this Spring.”
BMC Roster in Tour of Flanders: Silvan Dillier (SUI), Jempy Drucker (LUX), Martin Elmiger (SUI), Stefan Küng (SUI), Daniel Oss (ITA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Francisco Ventoso (ESP).
