Belgian’s Greg Van Avermaet is hopeful to shine in BMC despite Gilbert’s inclusion in the squad
UCI Pro BMC Racing Team’s Greg Van Avermaet hopes that he can continue his outstanding performances in the 2012 classics, despite the fact that Philippe Gilbert and Thor Hushovd have also become a part of BMC’s squad.
Previously, the Belgian had an uneasy coexistence with Gilbert, when they rode together in Omega Pharma-Lotto Team. However, at the end of 2010, Avermaet quit the team and joined BMC.
In the 2011 season, he showed a tremendous performance and bagged numerous victories. Therefore, he is hopeful that he will earn several triumphs in the next season as well.
Van Avermaet told the media, “Philippe is the best rider at the moment and there’s also Hushovd. We’ll have a lot of pressure, we’re going to have to work and take the race in hand. Naturally, I’ll ride for them, but I hope that in certain races I will still
have my chances”.
Recently, in the Velo de Cristal awards ceremony Gilbert told the media that Van Avermaet will not be a spring classics leader because in Liege-Bastogne-Liege he dropped from the winning move and lost precious time.
He explained, “In the finale of Liège, he only took one turn at the front and then he was dropped and lost a minute. If he was really strong, he would have gone all the way to the finish. He showed his limit".
Although the 26-year-old Van Avermaet was not pleased by Gilbert’s comments, he did not want to create any issues and appeared positive that they might work well together.
Greg and Gilbert have the same course in the next season because both of them are the same kind of cyclists.
Van Avermaet career highlights include winning National U-23 Road Race championships in 2006, along with securing the ninth stage and the overall points standing of Vuelta a Espana.
He also obtained the overall runner-up’s spot in the Tour of Belgium and the third place in the Tour of Qatar, in 2008.
In the 2010 season, he took the fifth spot in the UCI Road World championships and the eighth place in Brabantse Pijl.
He enjoyed a more successful season in 2011, where he won the fifth stage and wrapped the overall leader’s jersey in the Tour de Wallonie.
Greg also triumphed in the Paris-Tour by easily beating Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro).
If Greg Van Avermaet continues his superb performance, then there is a possibility that he can win a number of victories in the next season as well.
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