As the final day of the 2017 World Championships begins in Bergen on Sunday, Belgium has still to win a medal of any colour, meaning the hopes of one of cycling’s most passionate nations rests on the shoulders on Greg Van Avermaet and Philippe Gilbert.
Van Avermaet is a born and bred Flandrian, while Gilbert hails from Remouchamps in the heart of French-speaking Wallonie. They were once fierce rivals while at BMC, feuding for the role of team leader for the one-day Classics. They became direct rivals in 2017 with Gilbert moving to Quick-Step Floors and winning the Tour of Flanders, while Van Avermaet was second. He equalled the score by winning Paris-Roubaix and the two will start Sunday’s road race with similar palmares, equal ambitions and similar determination to pull on the rainbow jersey.
The Belgian national coach Kevin De Weert has played down any problems between the two, but like the Belgian fans, he expects a result.
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“I don’t care how they race as long as they finish first and second,” he joked, trying to play down any concerns about their rivalry, but unable to ignore the giant elephant in the hotel conference room for their final press meeting in Bergen.
While some riders, including Peter Sagan, arrived late on Friday, the Belgian squad has been in Bergen since Tuesday, allowing Van Avermaet and Gilbert to spend time together. Sitting side by side in front of the attentive and ever inquisitive Belgian media, there was an air of respect between them. Not a friendship, but at least respect. “I think all the big nations have more than one leader, even in the big pro teams it’s like that.
I think we’re professionals and so we won’t race against each other,” Gilbert said as they two took turns answering questions.
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