Despite being ruled out of E3 with illness, Greg Van Avermaet of BMC is still in fantastic form and says he can handle no longer being the underdog in the biggest Classics. He is still scheduled to ride Gent-Wevelgem.

“I’m not the underdog anymore, no,” Van Avermaet told reporters in Roeselare on Thursday afternoon. “I always wanted to be in this position, I knew I could do it and it’s good to be here finally. But I’m still hungry for more. I want a big race like Flanders or Roubaix on my palmarès, and that’s what keeps me motivated.”

Van Avermaet says that the only thing that has changed now he is no longer an underdog is that his team must take more responsibility, something his strong Classics team can easily do.

“Making better results and getting wins has changed things a little bit, but other riders were targeting me before now, too, like last year at Flanders and Roubaix,” Van Avermaet said. “They know I’m always up there contesting the win, so I think I was already important before. Maybe the only thing that has changed is that with the team, we have to take more responsibility.”

While he has plenty of rivals like Sagan, Cancellara, Stybar and Thomas and Rowe, all of whom look good heading into the biggest Classics, Van Avermaet isn’t scared of anyone.

“I’m strong, I’m not scared of anybody,” Van Avermaet said. “I know that I’m strong. It’s hard to say if I’d ride in the same way, you have to see the situation and make decisions. With Sagan and Cancellara there, it’s a different race, but I can attack even if they are there.”