"Remco and Tadej have become the standard, and I'm worried about that" - Greg Van Avermaet on extremely young Fleche Wallonne top-10

Interesting observation from the results of La Fleche Wallone is that the 26-year-old Tadej Pogacar was the oldest rider to finish in the top-10. It's a proof of the general trend in cycling with riders reaching their peak much sooner than what was usual in the days of Greg Van Avermaet.

"It is a general fact that young people break through faster than before," the former cyclist explains in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws. "Cyclists are increasingly ready to win races and achieve good results."

Still, the particular example of La Fleche Wallonne doesn't seem to worry Van Avermaet that much as he suggests a simple explanation as to why so many young riders did well on Wednesday: "It is a race that is 'only' 200 kilometers long. That makes it just a little bit easier for a young rider to ride a top ten than in, say, the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, which are longer than 250 kilometers."

In addition to length, the way the Classic often plays out is also favorable to younger riders: "Moreover, the Mur de Huy is a very specific arrival, perfect for explosive types. And those young guys simply have that in them, much more than the toughness that is needed for a Monument."

Still, Van Avermaet sees a difference from the past, when riders were at their best at the age of thirty. "Now that peak is around 26 or 27 years. Everything has shifted a bit."

The Belgian also drew that conclusion from his own experience. "I went on a training camp with some juniors last year. Then you see how professionally those guys are already dealing with their profession. When I used to ride with the juniors, I knew nothing, so to speak. That professionalism comes in much earlier, which means they make jumps faster and are therefore ready to book results with the pros sooner."

While the development seems fairly innocent, Van Avermaet also sees a danger lurking in it. "I'm afraid that young riders won't have much time to show themselves. There's more pressure and that of course has a lot to do with men like Evenepoel and Pogacar, who have already achieved phenomenal performances at a very young age. They have become the standard, and I'm worried about that. You can't compare everyone to them."

That's why the former rider thinks it's important that riders who are not quite in the Pogacar-Evenepoel row, also get the chance to develop. "So that one day they might be able to compete with those top riders. Look at Skjelmose, who beat Evenepoel and Pogacar in the Amstel. That's what makes it so great: that such men, when they work hard and do the right things, can also win races."