Victor Campenaerts opts out of Tour de France: "Impressive to see on television, but not great for me"

Victor Campenaerts will be looking for his first win of the season in the upcoming Baloise Belgium Tour, aswell as the national championships where he's got his eye layed on as the prime goal for the second block of the season.

“However, I am not in the form I should be yet. I also drove fully employed there, and I prefer to drive on my own account of course (laughs). But I want to grow into my best form in the next few days. Next week there will be the Baloise Belgium Tour and then the championships.”

Campenaerts had talked about how ever since dropping the specific focus on time-trials he's become a more successful road rider, however he's still having goals in his former favourite discipline: “I trained a lot on my time trial bike, especially with that Belgian championship in my own village in mind... It will be very difficult, but I am going to try.”

Not only the time-trial, but he should be a contender in the road race for the Belgian stripes. He will have heavy competition on both, however those will be the main goals for the summer as he is set to miss the Tour de France. “That was a personal choice. I already rode the Tour last year. It may be impressive to see on television, but not great for me," he said regarding the option.

The 30-year old has explained his plans for after the national championships: "But I will go on an altitude training camp after the championships, to prepare myself for what is to come. I hope that a selection for the World championships is on the way," he said. "Although I wouldn't say no, if they ask me for the time trial. And then there are many more beautiful appointments. It's just a shame that the Benelux Tour is cancelled."

Campenaerts took to the start yesterday at the Baloise Belgium Tour where he will be looking to test his form and look for a win.