Greg Van Avermaet gutted Van Aert & Van der Poel will miss Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: "If I have to be honest, I'd rather have them there"

A two-time former winner of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Greg Van Avermaet returns to Gent this year aiming to make it a trio of titles. The fact he won't be up against Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel lessens the event in his own mind however.

"Without Wout and Mathieu, nobody stands out and things are a bit more open. As Wout rode away last year, only a few can do that," the 37-year-old Belgian tells Het Nieuwsblad, full of praise for two of the sports biggest stars. "Still, if I have to be honest, I'd rather have them there. That gives the race some extra cachet, just like in the cross."

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Regardless of whether or not Van Avermaet would rather test himself against van Aert and van der Poel, the fact that the pair will not be racing at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad opens up the race, giving someone like the experienced Belgian more of a chance.

"It is of course a fact that when Van Aert and Van der Poel are at the start, it is difficult to keep up with them," Van Avermaet explains. "Then you can ride a very good race and still go home with a place of honour, but that applies to many riders. De Lie, Van Baarle, Laporte. Men of the second line who can make their move. It is important to strike when things come to a standstill and try to end up in a nice group. We must use those moments to gain a head start."