In 2014, Greg Van Avermaet had the best season of his career. The results showed great consistency throughout the year: 2nd in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad , 2nd in the  Tour of Flanders, 17th in  Paris-Roubaix, 5th in the Eneco Tour, 5th in the GP Quebec and in 5th int the road race at the world championships. However, the Belgian is not completely satisfied and aims for more in 2015.

Before starting his season at the Tour of Qatar, Van Avermaet outlined his goals in an interview with CyclismActu. This year, the Belgian who will soon become a father, wants to take the final step by winning a big race. To reach his goal, the 29-year-old Belgian will focus on two main objectives in 2015: the Tour of Flanders in April and the Worlds in September.

“For me, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix always represent the most important races of the year,” he told the French site. “It is essential for me to be good in these races since the Flemish races are always an objective. The classics from Milan-Sanremo to Amstel Gold Race are very important for me. To win the Tour of Flanders would be good for me. I finished second last year, fourth two years earlier (in 2012, ed), and 7th in 2013. These are good results and I think it's possible to get the win in the Tour of Flanders this year.”

“Above all, the power to weight ratio comes into play in the performance on the pavé. Then there is also a very good knowledge of the course. This is important to know how to position yourself in the race. You know when it is time to get back into position. I think this type of classics is very special. You have to give the best of yourself for a long time and for many kilometers. You must be the best in the last hour of the race. This kind of ​​resistance is, for me, the best thing about these races.”

In recent years, Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara have both made the Flanders-Roubaix double. Van Avermaet does not rule out that he could become the next on the list.

“Everything is possible but it would be great to win one of these two races,” he said. “After that, if you finish first in the Tour of Flanders, you go to Paris-Roubaix with less pressure.The double is certainly possible although Roubaix comes shortly after De Ronde. To achieve this, you have to be a bit lucky too. But before thinking about the double, I would like to try to win either Flanders or Paris-Roubaix.

“My first big goal of the season will be Milan-San Remo. Later, there will be Flanders and Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race. These are very important goals for me. If you are at a good level in San Remo, it is sufficient to maintain the shape until Amstel to try to reach your objectives.”

During the winter, there was a public disagreement between Van Avermaet and his BMC teammate Philippe Gilbert after the latter had announced his desire to do the cobbled races. Van Avermaet made it clear that he wanted to be the sole leader in those events and in the end, the team asked Gilbert to focus on the Ardennes.

“To be the only leader of the team in the Tour of Flanders gives me more pressure,” he said.” But, on the other hand, it makes me more confident because as a sole leader you have the whole team around you. And that's a good point in the classics! After that, it also depends on the race you are going to be unique leader in and how you feel. Sometimes it's an advantage to have two leaders in the same team but having a single leader to protect can also be beneficial.

“We just decided to follow the same program as last year. We saw that it worked pretty well, so we decided to do the same again this season. Philippe has goals from the Amstel Gold Race and in the Ardennes, just as I will finish my races as my goal is to have a good cobbled classics campaign. It's just the decision of the team. And personally I think this is a good choice. The team will be really strong in both campaigns. We have a very good team to perform and to win.

“Our relationship is pretty good. Occasionally, we ride together. And we have seen in the past that our agreement was pretty good. In 2014 at the World Championships, Philippe rode for me after I had sacrificed myself in the Amstel Gold Race. This shows that we have good relations. I think we can win a lot of races together. We're both good riders, but we do not have exactly the same characteristics. I think he is a better climber than me and I'm a little sprinter than him. In any case, we will continue to work together. And I'm sure that in the coming years, we will do a good job together and we will achieve great results.”

In 2015 the World Championships will take place in Richmond on a course that is expected to suit riders that excel on the cobbles.

“This year, I think I have a great opportunity at the Worlds because the road race will look like a Flemish classic. The Worlds is usually the second major goal of my season. And in 2015, this will again be the case, perhaps more than ever. I will do everything to achieve a good result. Last year I finished fifth in the World Championships. But this year the course is more to my liking than in 2014.

“We have some Americans in the team. They have already checked the course and I talked to them to find out exactly how it was going to be. It will be made up of small climbs. There will be 3 or 4 climbs on each lap. And so it will be very hard in the finale because the circuit is very short. There will be a lot of elevation gain .And I think this course suits me very well.”

Van Avermaet is now ready to start his season and he knows what his schedule will look like.

“I'll start at the Tour of Qatar and Tour of Oman,” he said. Like last year, in fact. Then I have two races in Belgium: the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. I'll do Strade Bianche, a race that attracts me a lot. Later there will be Tirreno-Adriatico just before the start of the classics season: Milan-San Remo, Gent-Wevelgem, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix and Amstel Gold Race. A nice program!”