Greg Van Avermaet: Yorkshire is a missed opportunity, but I couldn't reach my level
The Belgian finished eighth at the World Championships road race in a gruelling day of torrid conditions
Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium) says he "missed an opportunity" to become world champion in Yorkshire on Sunday, but could not reach the same level that has won him an Olympic title and Paris-Roubaix.
He placed eighth after the rain-soaked ride around Harrogate, but was the best of the Belgian team after they lost Philippe Gilbert due to a crash.
>>> Peter Sagan says he definitely mis-read Yorkshire Worlds road race
"We were not at our best," Van Avermaet told Het Laatste Nieuws. "For me, that was tough, when I know that I cannot reach the top level at that moment, while perhaps I can rise above myself in warm conditions.
"I didn't have the top feeling. And to win a Worlds, everything has to be perfect."
Van Avermaet, 34, said before the race that it could the last opportunity to fill an already rich palmarès with a world title. He rules out the Worlds next year in Switzerland, but now says that maybe he could have a chance in 2021.
"I think there will be another chance [to win the Worlds] in Belgium, if you look at someone like Gilbert, who is three years older than me..." he continued.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"There will be opportunities if I can keep my level. Yorkshire is a missed opportunity. But as they say, you can never give up. That is a bit of my character."
The weight of the Belgian team shifted to Van Avermaet when Gilbert crashed and quit the race. Gilbert, however, had been the one who flourishes in the cold and wet conditions. Ahead of the title fight, Van Avermaet had already said that he prefers sun and dry conditions – which is not what the riders faced.
"We had hoped for more from this Worlds, especially with such a team. We should have brought someone in front when they [Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) and Matteo Trentin (Italy)] rode away, but it is easier said than done," he said.
"Everyone did his best, especially in the weather – really cold and all day in the rain – made it very difficult to change anything.
"I always try to be honest, otherwise I should have been with Sagan when attacked [and finished fifth]. But I finished eighth. There are worse ones... Favourites that were dropped at a 100 kilometres from the finish, so to speak."
Van Avermaet's season comes to a close with three wins: stages in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and the Tour de Yorkshire, and the GP Cycliste de Montréal. It is the Classics season and the three weeks in the Tour de France that still annoy him.
"I saw that I am now fourth in the world rankings. If I am among the five best riders in the world in terms of points, I cannot say that it is a bad season," he said.
"The Classics were a bit disappointing. Normally I am extremely good in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, and those races were disappointing. I tried to ride a very regular season. That was always my strength. But the outliers are missing a bit."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
I'm not into cake stops - but - I made an exception to rate five British delicacies in one ride
Of all the cakes named after places in the north-west of England, which is the tastiest? Simon Warren sets out to sample them all in a single epic ride
By Simon Warren Published
-
The Rugby Flyer flies again: the story of the first sub-hour '25' time trial
How one record-breaking bike – and the memory of the man who rode it – live on
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Latvia protest against Mathieu van der Poel's World Championships result, saying he 'endangered spectators'
Latvian Cycling Federation calls on UCI to explain decision not to disqualify Dutchman who mounted pavement
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I was pushing but I couldn't feel my legs' - GB's Oscar Onley on his breakout World Championships ride
The 21-year-old was the youngest man in the top-20 in Zürich and matched some of the big guns on his way to 16th
By Adam Becket Published
-
'It was a stupid move, but it worked' - Tadej Pogačar on his history-making World Championships ride
Welcome to the Pogačar era, where the Slovenian can attack from 100km to the line and still win. It's just starting.
By Adam Becket Published
-
'Crazy', 'not normal', 'another level' - Peloton reacts to another Tadej Pogačar solo masterclass at World Championships
The win was not unexpected, but the way it happened might have been, as the Slovenian soloed to historic victory
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tadej Pogačar completes stunning Triple Crown with 51km solo to maiden rainbow jersey
Slovenian caps off imperious year with victory at the World Championships road race in Zurich
By Flo Clifford Published
-
'Everyone wants to win, sometimes that means everyone wants to lose' - Dutch attack, attack, and attack, but end up with fifth after confusing World Championships road race
Demi Vollering staked everything on trying to win the rainbow bands, but it wasn't to be. Was there a better way?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Lotte Kopecky has 'perfect day' as she sprints to Worlds glory again
Belgian becomes seventh woman to defend the rainbow bands on tough day on the roads of Zürich
By Adam Becket Published
-
'In a sprint with Kopecky, that’s probably the best I can do' - Chloé Dygert content with silver in World Championships road race
The American took the best result for her country since 1991 in the road race, capping off great year for USA women's cycling
By Adam Becket Published