Despite a fine season with an Olympic title and lots of success, Greg Van Avermaet has also had physical problems during the year. Victim of a broken collarbone at his crash in the Tour of Flanders, he also crashed recently where he returned to training for 2017. Hence, he now faces a small race against the clock to be on top from the start of next season.
Yesterday, a party was held in his honor in the town of Stoumont where Van Avermaet was in attendance. With his left foot in a splint to protect his fractured ankle, the BMC Racing rider gave an update to La Dernière Heure.
"I feel good but obviously I would have preferred not to crash at the start of preparation,” he said. “I've never broken anything in my career and this year I suffered two fractures! My crash was a little stupid. I had already gone down that descent 3 or 4 times in the same way and this time I had a bit of bad luck.”
It was a rather silly incident since Van Avermaet tried to avoid some water during a mountain bike outing.
After a period off the bike, the Belgian is expected to resume his preparation by the end of the year.
"The preparation is still long and I hope to be ready for the start of next season. I'll take two or three weeks of rest and then I will resume training.”
18.05: Veenendaal-Veenendaal |
14.05 - 19.05: 4 Jours de Dunkerque |
15.05 - 19.05: Orlen Nations GP |
15.05 - 19.05: Tour of Hellas |
16.05 - 19.05: Vuelta a Burgos Feminas |
16.05 - 19.05: Tour of Sakarya |
16.05 - 19.05: Vuelta a Santiago del Estero |
17.05 - 19.05: SPIE Juniorendriedaagse |
18.05 - 19.05: Trophée Centre Morbihan |
19.05: Antwerp Port Epic Ladies |
Greg VAN AVERMAET 39 years | today |
Bruno DUARTE FERREIRA SILVA 36 years | today |
Leonardo CANESCHI 47 years | today |
Florian KIERNER 25 years | today |
Tom COLSON 39 years | today |
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