Greg van Avermaet surprised from Tour absence: "Unfortunately, the team has a different opinion and I have to accept it"

Greg van Avermaet has not been selected to ride the Tour de France, a decision that came as a surprise to the Belgian veteran who will see fellow classics riders Oliver Naesen and Stan Dewulf play a crucial supporting role.

“I had no sign that I would not be there. It's not nice to hear that you're not in the top eight riders of the squad. Of course I understand that I am not in the first 3 riders, but with my abilities I certainly expected to be there," van Avermaet told Wielerrevue. The 37-year old has ridden the race nine times, and had been expecting to have another participation specially with the cobbled stage five - although if he were to be chosen, he'd likely be in supporting role for Ben O'Connor. 

"I have built a nice history in the Tour and given the profile of the first 10 days I would have definitely had my place in the team. Unfortunately, the team management thought otherwise. They think I'm not riding uphill well enough, but I don't think it's my job to be there at the last pass either. I could certainly have assisted O'Connor. I have shown often enough in the past that I am capable of finishing the Tour," he added.

Whilst Dewulf and Naesen will be the crucial supporting pieces on the flat roads, the AG2R Citroën Team have dedicated a specifically voluminous mountain support team for the Australian, having Bob Jungels, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Geoffrey Bouchard and Mikaël Cherel also within the team, and the team are also said to be looking for new riders to fill this supporting role in the coming seasons.

“It will take me a few days to process this news and I haven't felt like looking at an alternative program yet," van Avermaet said. "They never promised me that I would ride the Tour, but I didn't know that I belonged to the doubters either. Am I broken? That's a very big word. I've had a hard time in the last two mountain stages of the Dauphine and apparently that turned the light on for the team," the Belgian pointed out.

"I have often suffered greatly in the Dauphine to be there a few weeks later in the Tour. I think the fact that last year was not my most enjoyable Tour also played a part in their decision," he concluded.