Greg Van Avermaet is a consistent face in the pro-peloton but this year the Belgian rider believes he could finally break his duck at a Monument race.
Last year Avermaet was a support rider to Tejay Van Garderen in the Tour de France, but this year the rider wants to win one of the big Classic races in the early part of the season.
Avermaet has finished in the top 10 at the Tour of Flanders four times, and has finished third and fourth at Paris Roubaix in the past three years, so he is getting close to that elusive win.
Avermaet says he is ‘aiming for a big classic’ this year
BMC have built a solid team over the off-season, Richie Porte has come in from Team Sky; as it looks like him and Van Garderen will spearhead the Grand Tours this year.
But Avermaet will have his eye on the Classic races, speaking to Cycling Weekly he said: “I think this could be the year, I am aiming for a big classic, I am always up there and it is always one of my biggest goals.”
“We have a really strong team, a bit older, a bit better and the team know the courses well,” added the 30-year-old.
In previous years the Classics were only suited to the all-rounder in the peloton, but now we are seeing a fresh influx of sprinters picking up victories at these notoriously difficult races; riders such as Alexander Kristoff won some of the Classic races last season.
The BMC rider said: “It is really hard every year and we now have a generation of sprinters who can also ride the classics, [but] I have to believe in myself. I think I can beat these guys in the end.”
The Belgian admits he is happy at the team, but should something more interesting gets put on the table he might have to consider his options.
“I am really happy at BMC at the moment, BMC are in the leading position to offer a new contract and see if they want to build a team around me,” Avermaet said.
“But I will see if someone offers me something interesting and then choose what will make my career as successful as possible,” conceded the experienced rider.