BMC's Greg Van Avermaet: It's my turn to win Flanders
This Sunday will be his fourth attempt to win one of the most coveted monuments, the Tour of Flanders
"My victory Sunday in Ghent-Wevelgem was incredible and, as I said then, I think I can not pretend that I'm not the top favorite for the Tour de Flanders. I have had the best start to the season possible, and what gives me even more confidence is knowing that my favorite race, the race that suits me the most, is still to come, " said Van Avermaet.
"The lineup this Sunday will be a very special feeling. I know I am the one who has been stronger in the spring, and this year the race for my house. As I say every year, I know the roads well, I train every day on the paths, and this year I feel like it's my turn, " said van Avermaet. "I feel this year is my turn. I am going to race aggressively and I will have seven riders dedicated completely to help me win. There is nothing else I can do to prepare myself. I'm ready , " concluded the Flandrien.
BMC's lineup for Flanders this Sunday is looking strong:
Silvan Dillier (SUI), Jempy Drucker (LUX), Martin Elmiger (SUI), Stefan Küng (SUI), Daniel Oss (ITA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Francisco Ventoso
2017 Tour of Flnders Course
This years race is 260km long, with a total of 18 climbs. The climbs of Ten Bosse, the Muur and the new climb of the Pottelberg feature this year.
The last 75km of the race remains unchanged, so the Oude Kwaremont and Paterburg sections remains the toughest section.
The tougher sections start in the middle of the race and get harder before the end, so there will be plenty of miles in the legs before the action really kicks off.
The Favorites
Peter Sagan soloed to victory in 2016 after attacking on the Paterberg to finish nearly half a minute ahead of Fabian Cancellara and Sep Vanmarcke. The World Champion is the man to beat in the 2017 Tour of Flanders and he will be looking to defend his title.
Sagan showed his form in Milan-San Remo, won in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and won two stages in Tirreno-Adriatico. He was very disappointed with 3rd at Ghent-Welevgem as Terpsta and indeed other riders aren't prepared to work with him. This week Quick-Step Floors have made it clear that they won't be doing Sagan any favours. The curse of the Rainbow Jersey could strike again.
Sep Vanmarcke and previous winner Kristoff are of course favorites, especially Kristoff, if it ends in a final sprint.
QuickStep of course brings a strong squad with 3 times winner Tom Boonen, Niki Terpstra, Philippe Gilbert, Zdenek Stybar who are all capable of winning. Team Sky have strong classics riders Ian Stannard and Luke Rowe. Trek-Segafredo have John Degenkolb and Jasper Stuyven as their strongest favorites.
Greg Van Avermaet and Sagan won't want to come to line in a bunch so they are likely to attack before the end of the one of the final climbs.
This will be 3 times winner Tom Boonen's final chance to win one last time too!
*** Greg Van Avermaet, Peter Sagan, Sep Vanmarcke, Phlippe Gilbert
** Tom Boonen, Luke Rowe, Niki Terpstra, John Degenkolb, Jasper Stuyven, Zdenek Stybar
* Ian Stannard, Alexander Kristoff, Arnaud Démare, Tony Martin
VIDEO: 2016 Tour of Flanders
Previous Winners
2016 Peter Sagan
2015 Alexander Kristoff
2014 Fabian Cancellara
2013 Fabian Cancellara
2012 Tom Boonen
2011 Nick Nuyens
2010 Fabian Cancellara
2009 Stijn Devolder
2008 Stijn Devolder
2017 Tour of Flanders Start List
World Tour Teams
AG2R La Mondiale
Stijn Vandenbergh, Oliver Naesen, Gediminas Bagdonas, Nico Denz, Julien Duval, Hugo Houle, Alexis Gougeard, Rudy Barbier
Astana Pro Team
Matti Breschel, Laurens De Vreese, Oscar Gatto, Andrei Grivko, Dmitriy Gruzdev, Truls Korsaeth, Alexey Lutsenko, Michael Valgren
Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team
Heinrich Haussler, Niccolo Bonifazio, Borut Bozic, Ivan Garcia Cortina, Sonny Colbrelli, Chun Kai Feng, David Per, Luka Pibernik
BMC Racing Team
Greg Van Avermaet, Silvan Dillier, Jean-Pierre Drucker, Martin Elmiger, Stefan Küng, Manuel Quinziato, Daniel Oss, Francisco Ventoso
Bora – Hansgrohe
Peter Sagan, Christoph Pfingsten, Marcus Burghardt, Michael Kolar, Juraj Sagan, Maciej Bodnar, Aleksejs Saramotins, Andreas Schillinger
Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team
Sep Vanmarcke, Tom Van Asbroeck, Sebastian Langeveld, Alberto Bettiol, Taylor Phinney, Thomas Scully, Patrick Bevin, Dylan van Baarle
Dimension Data
Edvald Boasson Hagen, Nick Dougall, Bernhard Eisel, Tyler Farrar, Reinardt J. van Rensburg, Youcef Reguigui, Jay Robert Thomson, Scott Thwaites
FDJ
Arnaud Démare, Mickaël Delage, Jacopo Guarnieri, Daniel Hoelgaard, Ignatas Konovalovas, Matthieu Ladagnous, Olivier Le Gac, Marc Sarreau
Lotto Soudal
Tiesj Benoot, Jens Debusschere, Tony Gallopin, André Greipel, Nikolas Maes, Jürgen Roelandts, Marcel Sieberg, Jelle Wallays
LottoNL-Jumbo
Lars Boom, Steven Lammertink, Timo Roosen, Bram Tankink, Gijs Van Hoecke, Jos van Emden, Robert Wagner, Maarten Wynants
Movistar Team
Andrey Amador, Jorge Arcas, Héctor Carretero, Nelson Oliveira, Imanol Erviti, Nuno Bico, Dayer Quintana, Jasha Sütterlin
ORICA-Scott
Mathew Hayman, Jens Keukeleire, Luke Durbridge, Mitchell Docker, Christopher Juul-Jensen, Michael Hepburn, Luka Mezgec, Magnus Cort Nielsen
Quick-Step Floors
Tom Boonen, Fernando Gaviria, Philippe Gilbert, Iljo Keisse, Yves Lampaert, Zdenek Stybar, Niki Terpstra, Matteo Trentin
Team Katusha – Alpecin
Alexander Kristoff, Tony Martin, Reto Hollenstein, Sven Erik Bystrøm, Viacheslav Kuznetsov, Marco Haller, Michael Mørkøv, Nils Politt
Team Sky
Ian Stannard, Luke Rowe, Gianni Moscon, Salvatore Puccio, Christian Knees, Owain Doull, Danny van Poppel, Lukasz Wisniowski
Team Sunweb
Søren Kragh Andersen, Nikias Arndt, Phil Bauhaus, Roy Curvers, Bert De Backer, Ramon Sinkeldam, Mike Teunissen, Zico Waeytens
Trek – Segafredo
Jasper Stuyven, Edward Theuns, John Degenkolb, Fabio Felline, Gregory Rast, Marco Coledan, Koen de Kort, Boy van Poppel
UAE Team Emirates
Simone Consonni, Filippo Ganna, Marko Kump, Vegard Stake Laengen, Marco Marcato, Sacha Modolo, Oliviero Troia, Federico Zurlo
Procontinental teams
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
Loïc Chetout, Dimitri Claeys, Hugo Hofstetter, Christophe Laporte, Cyril Lemoine, Florian Sénéchal, Michael Van Staeyen, Kenneth Vanbilsen
Direct Energie
Ryan Anderson, Romain Cardis, Sylvain Chavanel, Antoine Duchesne, Bryan Coquard, Julien Morice, Adrien Petit, Alexandre Pichot
Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
Jesper Asselman, Berden de Vries, Pim Ligthart, Jens Mouris, Taco van der Hoorn, Sjoerd van Ginneken, Brian van Goethem, Pieter Weening
Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
Preben Van Hecke, Edward Planckaert, Jonas Rickaert, Jarl Salomein, Thomas Sprengers, Stijn Steels, Amaury Capiot, Bert Van Lerberghe
Vérandas Willems-Crelan
Stijn Devolder, Gaetan Bille, Sander Cordeel, Dries De Bondt, Huub Duyn, Timothy Dupont, Stef Van Zummeren, Otto Vergaerde
Wanty – Groupe Gobert
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, Frederik Backaert, Wesley Kreder, Yoann Offredo, Simone Antonini, Kevin Van Melsen, Pieter Vanspeybrouck, Frederik Veuchelen
Wilier Triestina
Filippo Pozzato, Liam Bertazzo, Matteo Draperi, Giuseppe Fonzi, Jacopo Mosca, Rafael Andriato, Alex Turrin, Eugert Zhupa