Be less consistent. That was the instruction BMC Racing’s management passed to Ben Hermans at the team’s training camp in Spain earlier this December.
For a rider who diligently picked up five top-15 places in stage races this season – including 14th at the Vuelta a Espana – that must have come as something of a surprise. Yet the 30-year-old has taken it in his stride as he sets out his goals for 2017, with a Grand Tour, more opportunities in week-long stage races and a chance to ride in the Ardennes classics all on the cards.
“I’ve been told by the team to start having some peaks and to stop being consistent. It’s better to win two races and have three bad months,” Hermans tells Cyclingnews.
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“I’m more or less always on the same level and I’m always trying to be good in every race. I hope to have a bit more luck so that I can win races and still be good in all my races.”
More from the BMC Racing training camp
- Have BMC solved their leadership dilemma?
- The complete Van Avermaet
- BMC announce 2017 line-up as team begins training camp in Spain
- Van Avermaet returns to training after surgery
In a sense Hermans, who won De Brabantse Pijl - La Flèche Brabançonne in 2015, is the prototype BMC athlete. The squad pride themselves on being consistent throughout the year with an emphasis place on WorldTour points. Hermans may have just 21 points but with several riders leaving the team he is now in the top five BMC riders according to the UCI rankings. After his impressive Vuelta it’s little wonder that the team are asking him to take on slightly more responsibility. It is also worth noting that he has abandoned just four times in the last two seasons – an impressive statistic in itself for a rider who consistently rides in the service of others.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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