Rider Interview: Greg Van Avermaet has been knowledgeable racing bicycle owner for 18 years and has an admirable palmarès behind him: Olympic champion, Paris-Roubaix, Gent-Wevelgem, Het Nieuwsblad… and the checklist goes on. Our man in Spain, Alastair Hamilton caught up with the highest Belgian on the AG2R-Citroën coaching camp, after a 3 12 months hole.
Time for a chat with Greg Van Avermaet
PEZ: It should be three years since we spoke, by the covid instances, how have issues modified?
Greg Van Avermaet: For me personally, sure. The workforce collapsed (CCC), that was unhealthy, as a result of I believe it was a pleasant mission. We had some good signings, I believe the second 12 months as a result of the primary 12 months was actually quick. We had been truly not too unhealthy, if you happen to see the rankings, we had been like ninth or eighth with CCC. Then we had good signings, I believe after which it stopped in July. We stored on racing, however we solely had been half paid. So it was a little bit of a pity as a result of we had some good skills like Zimmerman, Valter and Hirt. So yeah, it was it was a pity as a result of it was the identical employees from BMC with the identical administration. After which after all you wish to carry on going as a result of they had been good sponsors, with large and CCC. So yeah, that modified all the pieces. And I ended up in AG2R, which was additionally not unhealthy.
Coaching with AG2R Citroën
PEZ: Coming from a really worldwide workforce, like BMC to a extra French workforce, was that an issue?
There’s a distinction, yeah. You can’t say it’s the identical, there’s a completely different mentality, which each, I believe in their very own method make good outcomes. However, after all, it was a change for myself. It’s the language and it’s actually French. However in the long run, I really feel fairly good on this workforce, and I really feel appreciated. It’s only a pity that my outcomes weren’t that good. I wish to give extra again than I did for now. However yeah, that’s how it’s. I’m nonetheless right here and I simply attempt to do my finest you understand, and naturally, typically it’s not simply not ok for myself, personally, as a result of I’ve lots of ambition and I attempt to do higher than this.
Flanders’22
PEZ: Does the strain come from your self?
From myself, yeah. I believe the workforce respect what I’m doing, as a result of additionally they see how laborious I work from home. You realize with coaching peaks you possibly can see all the pieces now lately. So it’s not that I used to be not coaching on doing nothing. I believe the strain comes from myself as a result of I do know what I did earlier than and you then nonetheless wish to do the identical and it doesn’t come. That’s why you’re sitting there, you’re a bit unhappy and also you wish to do higher.
Mixing it with the younger guys
PEZ: This will probably be your 18th 12 months as knowledgeable bicycle owner, you have to have seen lots of modifications?
Lots of modifications, lots of people have come by, and there have been some proficient guys who had been only some years professional, so I’m fairly proud that I might make it that lengthy on this in this type of world which is all the time been my which been my dream. You begin as a younger rider with desires, the place you’re gonna find yourself, you by no means know.
A younger Greg Van Avermaet with Silence-Lotto in 2008, together with Francis De Greef and Jurgen Roelandts
PEZ: You’re of the technology that’s coming to their 40’s, you’ve lasted a very long time. Do you suppose the younger guys now will probably be racing at that age?
I don’t know. It’s more durable. I wouldn’t say we had extra enjoyable, however it’s completely different. We weren’t that strict on ourselves, I see now the younger guys following schedules. On the coaching camps, after we noticed a climb, typically we went quick, typically we simply did tempo, we weren’t that particular. Now. It’s about all the pieces being actually particular. Coach, meals, numbers, all the pieces is analysed and with us it was extra like enjoyable. For those who really feel good you go quick, you are feeling unhealthy you go a bit slower, extra like that. The query is how lengthy it’s gonna final for the younger guys, to be actually 100%. I believe if in case you have good outcomes you possibly can carry on going, but when it goes a little bit bit much less good, I believe it’s mentally laborious. You additionally see rather a lot now within the interview that lots of younger guys are scuffling with psychological well being, to maintain to maintain it going. As a result of typically it’s a pleasant job, however it may also be a tough job if you happen to don’t see the nice issues anymore.
PEZ: For Evenepoel it is perhaps ‘simple’, as a result of he got here straight from juniors to WorldTour. However for the opposite guys, who’re perhaps extra common, what are their probabilities like?
I believe they’ve an opportunity. You simply have to search out your method within the peloton. No, no, it’s not really easy. Nevertheless it’s additionally an odd time additionally, like some guys, in the event that they’re a superb helper, you possibly can have a superb profession additionally. It’s not solely the fellows that win that may have a superb profession, I believe it’s a must to simply discover your house the place you are able to do what you are able to do. Which is typically not simple, as a result of lots of guys simply give you the concept that they’re going to be the brand new Remco and it’s not like that. So then it’s a must to discover your spot, really feel pleased with your self, really feel pleased within the workforce and that’s crucial, I believe that it’s not all the time simple to search out this.
Greg and Remco
PEZ: And what of the younger Belgian guys? Evenepoel and now Cian Uijtdebroeks?
Evenepoel is at a distinct stage, he has proved that already. Uijtdebroeks has to make his personal profession, he’s not the identical as Remco, that’s for positive. That’s not doable. He can’t be ‘the second Evenepoel’ not possible. He’ll be a superb rider.
PEZ: The subsequent Evenepoel? He’s solely 22, how will you have the subsequent Evenepoel?
Issues go quick lately.
PEZ: What do you continue to need?
I nonetheless wish to put my profession on a superb word. You realize, I believe this final two years I used to be not so pleased with my outcomes. So I wish to be a little bit bit higher than the final two years. I wish to be on an honest stage, like driving finals, perhaps not successful anymore, I don’t suppose that’s the largest factor. I hope to win, after all, I nonetheless need win some races, however it will be good if I can trip Classics within the remaining. Find yourself with fifth or fourth, however being a part of the race. Final 12 months, there was quite a bit between fifteenth and twentieth in each Classics, I used to be third in Het Nieuwsblad, which was my finest consequence, however I used to be by no means actually within the race. That for me is crucial and that’s what I nonetheless need, getting within the remaining after which… yeah we’ll see.
Het Nieuwsblad
PEZ: So how do you inspire your self?
Simply to know that I nonetheless can do it, simply nonetheless imagine that it may nonetheless occur, that I can do a superb race, and in addition the eagerness for driving my bike, I nonetheless similar to to trip my bike, it’s not that I hate to exit. So for me, it’s simply nonetheless a little bit pastime to exit and that’s truly crucial. For those who actually prefer it, it’s not my work. Generally you possibly can say it’s laborious. Yeah, however then after an effort I can say I preferred it, truly.
Van Avermaet and Van Aert in Quebec
PEZ: Do you trip Zwift at dwelling?
Not that a lot. More often than not I’m trying to find good climate and I additionally prefer to trip within the rain typically. I all the time plan my coaching on the climate situations after which when it’s unhealthy day, I simply exit. Generally I trip Zwift. I believe it’s an incredible concept for individuals who work, however work for me is driving my bike, so I’ve time to exit.
The digital Flanders win for Van Avermaet
PEZ: Then you definately see they discovered Jay Vine by Zwift.
Yeah, it’s loopy, truly. I believe it’s an incredible device for individuals who work after which afterwards they’ll do one thing when it’s darkish, particularly in international locations in wintertime the place it’s darkish at 5 o’clock, they’ll nonetheless do one thing, I believe it’s additionally the type of factor that individuals who didn’t know they’d expertise, can uncover they’ve expertise. Lots of people don’t understand how good they’re, as a result of you don’t have any clue. If you’re simply driving you don’t have any clue if you happen to go quick or sluggish (in comparison with others), you are feeling it’s laborious, however that’s the identical for everyone. However then I believe on Zwift, if you happen to do the Zwift races, you possibly can discover out that you just’re truly fairly good. You would begin believing in a profession and I believe that’s how some riders now can can get by on simply numbers. It’s a superb device, for instance, if we had been on on the identical time we might trip collectively. It offers type of a superb feeling that you may trip along with a professional after which you possibly can trip it with a buddy or one thing. I don’t use it as a lot. No, I’ve simply an excessive amount of time to trip my bike exterior.
PEZ: The lack of BMC was a disgrace for lots of causes, it was a very good workforce. Do you miss it?
I miss it for positive. It was an incredible workforce and I’m tremendous pleased that BMC, the model, adopted me to AG2R. As a result of we’re nonetheless driving the BMC bike and that half type of makes me really feel like a little bit bit reference to the outdated workforce. And I’m virtually the final man, I believe, from the workforce that also rides a BMC bike. So, that’s type of cool.
Van Avermaet and Gilbert – Totally different groups in 2019
PEZ: If you and Philippe Gilbert had been in the identical workforce, was that an issue?
Probably not a giant drawback, no. I believe we’ve got lots of respect for one another. However sooner or later he had his large wins and I additionally had lots of ambitions. It’s not like we had a private drawback, we had been coming good collectively. Now after we see one another we are saying hello and we converse, we’re fairly good pals, truly. However in that interval, you understand if in case you have two formidable individuals, typically it’s not simple. I believe we didn’t have large issues, however typically it was like; ‘I simply wish to have my probability’ and I believe that’s regular. It’s regular stuff that occurs on the earth and never all the time all the pieces may be like effective and good. I believe crucial factor is that we got here out robust, me and him, and we’ve got nonetheless have a superb relationship collectively.
Hugo Web page, Greg Van Avermaet and Philippe Gilbert in Binche-Chimay-Binche 2022
PEZ: What, for you, was your largest win? The Olympics?
For me the Olympics. It was tremendous vital for me. It was in 2016, I gained a stage within the Tour and a few races, however for me, that was the factor, you understand, the largest win for my profession, which I labored laborious for and at last it arrived. Additionally it’s one thing particular, as a result of you possibly can say this and that about two levels within the tour, however for me, personally, the Olympics. Not everyone has it and that’s one thing particular for me.
Olympic champion
PEZ: I believe it means extra to most people.
Yeah, if you happen to go someplace and also you say Olympic champion. They acknowledge that.
PEZ: You additionally gained the WorldTour in 2017.
Yeah, that was large additionally, however it’s solely biking. Okay it was additionally laborious and I’m additionally fairly pleased with it as a result of to complete the primary finest rider on the finish of the 12 months. It’s one thing you understand, as a result of I additionally simply began to be a professional and if you are able to do that, it’s fairly superb additionally.
PEZ: Are you glad you didn’t stick with soccer?
Yeah, positive. It’s a superb query. Yeah, I used to be goalkeeper, however typically individuals ask me this after which I all the time say; ‘however in all probability if I stayed a soccer participant, I’d by no means attain that stage I’ve now,’ so it was a sensible choice.
Gravel Worlds 2022
PEZ: What about gravel?
I prefer it. I by no means did it in competitors till the Worlds, however I truly like to trip my bike off street. I typically go gravel/mountain bike in my coaching. So it’s one thing that I actually like, however I simply couldn’t do as a result of my street programme was all the time too full. I used to be tremendous pleased when BMC requested me and I used to be in a position to do it with AG2R. It was an incredible occasion and I wish to perform a little bit extra.
PEZ: The gravel Worlds was perhaps not just like the gravel scene in America.
No, no it’s a distinct race I believe. Initially I believe in America is much more altitude metres and it’s more durable. The Worlds right here had been extra technical, however we’ll see. I wish to do a couple of extra. It will likely be enjoyable.
That moto in San Sebastián
PEZ: Any regrets? Other than the bike within the San Sebastián Basic
No, truly no. Ah, Sebastian and the crash in Flanders additionally. There it was the collarbone, if it wasn’t for that, I’d have been near win Flanders I believe. However regrets you possibly can’t have in life.
PEZ: Final query. The tiramisu at BMC was well-known, is it any good right here?
No. No deserts for the second, there’s solely fruit and yogurt. Exhausting life. However I earlier than the coaching camp I all the time eat some dessert.
The well-known BMC tiramisu
* Because of Greg for his time and Valentin Jacquemet for establishing the interview. AG2R Citroën ought to do tiramisu for journalists. *
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