Greg Van Avermaet targeting Tour of California comeback

Greg Van Avermaet will not defend his Belgium Tour title in May, instead making his comeback at the Amgen Tour of California

Greg Van Avermaet attacks in the 2016 Dwars door Vlaanderen. Photo: Graham Watson

Greg Van Avermaet hopes to return from injuries suffered at the Tour of Flanders at next month's Amgen Tour of California, but admits he is still suffering discomfort.

The BMC rider suffered a broken collarbone in the crash on April 3, when several members of his team came down in the peloton in Flanders, forcing him to miss Paris-Roubaix the following week.

The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner wasn't off the bike for long, though, and plans to be back racing in California on May 15.

"The feeling on the bike is already quite good. I just have some pain in my wrist. Every time I ride over a [drain], I feel a twinge. This still worries me," Van Avermaet told Sporza.

Watch Greg Van Avermaet win stage 13 of the 2015 Tour de France

Van Avermaet will not return to the Baloise Belgium Tour, where he won the overall title last year, as his team have not entered the race.

"I think BMC is concerned that I would ride around in the Tour of Belgium to motivated. The main goal now is the Tour [de France], where I want to be as fresh as possible at the start," he said.

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.