Just over a bike length. That’s the distance that separated Greg Van Avermaet from victory in two of the biggest one-day races in world last year but such are the minute margins for error that the East Flandrian was left ruing his sprint finishes in both Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Tour of Flanders.
Out-shone by Ian Stannard in the former, out-foxed, andn out-thought by Fabian Cancellara in the latter, Van Avermaet was the nearly man of last spring.
Not that the campaign was failure, by any means. The Belgian led the line admirably for BMC Racing in a year of transition that saw Thor Hushovd creak towards retirement and Philippe Gilbert focus on the Ardennes. But for a few of what Van Avermaet calls ‘some small mistakes’ he could already be a Monument winner.
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Ifs and buts don't mean anything, because no matter how many times Van Avermaet relives those sprints in his head he still comes out second best, however, as he tells Cyclingnews he’s ready to make that final step - one from candidate of perennial potential to thoroughbred winner.
“My confidence from last year has taken a step up and that’s big thing for me,” he tells Cyclingnews.
“Last year I was finally there in all the big races. It was a good step for me. The rest I just have to see how it goes but that part on improving strength is important because you have to remember that I only came into cycling pretty late on, so I’m still growing. I feel like, even though I’m nearly 30, that I have more power than before. That adds to confidence and I know that from there I’ll be where I need to be for the Classics.”
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