There was a lot of talk about the tactics of BMC in the final of the Amstel Gold Race. Greg Van Avermaet was not allowed to ride with Jakob Fuglsang as everything was focused on Philippe Gilbert who could not finish it off. In an interview with Sporza, team manager Alan Peiper gives an explanation. "Everyone had confidence in Gilbert who has already proved himself on the Cauberg. Phil was so disappointed that he sent an e-mail in the evening."

Gilbert failed to get clear on the Cauberg as Michael Matthews stayed glued to his wheel. Eventually, an elite group sprinted for the victory, Van Avermaet was fifth, Gilbert tenth.

"After a rice, it's always easy to say what else we could have done. Of course we have talked about the tactics with the riders and staff after the race," Peiper told Sporza.

"But before the race we have said that Philippe was the only leader. Last year he asked for confidence: 'I will drop the rest on the Cauberg.' Phil won 12 big races in his career and four of them on the Cauberg. That's why we trusted him. And everyone followed the tactics.

"Our riders always adapted to the race situations. With a bit of luck, Gilbert would have gone clear or Van Avermaet had won the group sprint and then there would not have been a cloud in the sky."

Peiper confirms Van Avermaet could not ride with the late breakaway with Fuglsang. "We rode for for Philippe. Last year Greg was also away in the same part of the eace and we did not let him ride.

"The difference yesterday - and many people underestimate that - was the power of the team leaders in the car. They saw on their TV that Van Avermaet was not riding so they did not need to act but if Greg had cooperated with Fuglsang, you would definitely see that three or four teams would put two riders on the front to set a furious pace.

"We did not have to tell Greg not to ride, he already knew it from the pre-race meeting.

"Whether we deprived Greg a chance to win? There's always a chance to win. You can never predict what would have happened. But we did not allow Greg to ride."

Peiper emphasizes the importance of the team appointments: "To have faith in a leader is very important. In the Flemish classics, Greg was the only leader and now it was Gilbert's time. Everyone understands that."

Despite the heavy criticism, BMC havealso received support: "I saw some very nice word from Wilfried Peeters (team leader Etixx-Quick Step, ed) in a newspaper. He said that the tactics of BMC were good. An expert from the car understands the situation. Tony Martin did the same for his team. He did not go full gas, but rode in service of Kwiatkowski. That was a good tactic."

Peiper rejects the accusations of a bad tactic. "On the contrary I have had a long talk with Valerio Piva (sports director, ed.) and we are convinced that it was a good tactic."

"You must address each race differently. In Milan-Sanremo we crashed on the Cipressa and later on the descent of the Poggio and we were left empty-handed."

Peiper explains that Gilbert was very disappointed. "He was so disappointed that he sent a short email in the evening to tell that he was disappointed in himself and that he had failed in front of his team mates and the staff who had worked super hard. I think it shows a leader who takes responsibility.

"You should not underestimate that. He has here won four times and everyone knows where he is going to attack. That's a huge pressure for one rider. And he almost succeeded.

"I won't say that he is less strong than in previous years. He allowed Hermans to win in the Brabantse Pijl and had only one rider on his wheel on the Cauberg. On Sunday I think we will see a great Gilbert in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Then it is again all for him and we hope for that little bit more luck in the final."