After a third place in the Tour of Flanders, the BMC team is confident that Greg Van Avermaet can lead them to a great result in Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. The 29-year-old Belgian rider echoed the same confidence when he showed up at the team presentation in Compiègne on a grey Saturday afternoon.
“Flanders was a big goal and Roubaix is just the week after that. I still have the shape. Roubaix never fitted me super well and I also skipped it a few times,” Van Avermaet said. His best result was in 2013 when he finished third. In 2011 and 2012 he skipped the queen of the Spring Classics.
“It’s a tough race for me. I prefer Flanders, which suits my explosive style better. In Roubaix, it’s about strength and endurance. I think the years have made me stronger and that should bring me closer to the victory. Hopefully I can ride a good sprint too. It’s not that simple. I had a good training on Wednesday and I was feeling really good. I’m confident that I can do a good race on Sunday,” Van Avermaet said.
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Riding a good sprint might become very important if in-form Alexander Kristoff is still around on the famous vélodrome of Roubaix. The strong Norwegian has taken over the torch from his retired compatriot Thor Hushovd, starring at the Spring Classics by winning streak at the Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde, the Ronde and the Scheldeprijs.
“There’s only one tactic to beat Kristoff: get rid of him and don’t go with him to the sprint. I was already surprised that he was so good in Flanders because he did a lot of races. He also won on Wednesday in the Scheldeprijs. I hope he is tired. I hope he’s tired and not as good anymore as last Sunday. That’s the only point to get rid of him.”
When asked whether the race was more wide open due to the absence of the injured Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen, the Belgian rider didn’t completely agree.
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