Greg Van Avermaet has undergone a transformation in the past year and a half, going from perennial nearly-man to Olympic gold medallist, two-time stage winner and yellow jersey wearer at the Tour de France and, at last, winner of big one-day races like the GP de Montreal and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
One man hoping to follow in those footsteps is Sep Vanmarcke.
“I’m not one of the biggest talents like [Peter] Sagan, who’s there from when he’s like 18; I’m a guy like Greg Van Avermaet – someone who needs time,” the Belgian tells Cyclingnews at the winter training camp of Cannondale-Drapac, his new and old team.
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At 28, Vanmarcke has been amassing a string of near misses that wouldn’t have looked out of place on his compatriot’s results sheet. Hopes were raised by victory at Omloop in 2012 but since then he has amassed no fewer than 18 top-five placings in spring Classics. He has twice been on the podium at the Tour of Flanders (2014 and 2016), and his last four results at Paris Roubaix read: 4th, 11th, 4th, 2nd.
“I’m always there. In the last years I’ve always been top-five or on the podium," says Vanmarcke. "He [Van Avermaet] developed in a similar way, was also always there and just not winning."
“It’s only since last year and especially this year that he’s finishing it off. I don’t put a mirror between us but it’s pretty much the same, and I believe I’m developing the same.”
Back to the future
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