Greg Van Avermaet looking to get strong form ahead of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - "I’ve performed there well in the past, plus it gets a lot of media attention"

Greg Van Avermaet began his season at the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana 1969 last month, taking part in several other races since but has yet to find victories. He will aim for the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in the upcoming weeks.

Van Avermaet has previously won the race twice in his career and is hoping to secure a third victory this year. Last year he achieved a bronze finish, which was one of the few times he was able to stand on the podium.

“The team was not here last year so I had no option, but I’ve been here 10 times, I think. It’s got a lot of hard finals, which is good, and the weather is good - not too hot, not too cold. There’s almost no jet lag, it’s much more relaxing than other ones in Europe and well-organised and I always find I do well in the Classics after this,” he told Cyclingnews.

He further added, “Getting a good result there is always nice because it gives you a bit of confidence, but it’s also nice to get some results in the pocket beforehand. I’ve performed there well in the past, plus it gets a lot of media attention as the first big race of the year.”

In April, he plans to focus on the classics and if given a chance, he wants to participate in the Tour. “In general the Classics are the most important period of the year for me, and I still want to do well there, Normally I’ll be at the Tour, it’s on the schedule, although last year I was too, but you never know until the last moment,” concluded Avermaet.