Van Avermaet to end spring Classics campaign at Amstel Gold Race
(Cyclingnews.com)

BMC Racing have confirmed that Greg van Avermaet will finish his spring Classics campaign at Amstel Gold Race on Sunday. The Belgian has already raced for 27 days, including all the major one-day and cobbled Classics. He will join forces with BMC´s Ardennes specialists Dylan Teuns, Simon Gerrans and Damiano Caruso as the US-registered WorldTour team tries to win its first Classic of 2018. Also in the seven-rider line-up fro Amstel Gold Race are Alberto Bettiol, Alessandro de Marchi and Michael Schär. Van Avermaet`s only win of 2018 came on stage 3 of the Tour of Oman. He finished fourth at Paris-Roubaix, fifth at the Tour of Flanders and third at E3 Harelbeke but struggled to match Quick-Step Floor´s combined strength or Peter Sagan´s creative racing.ADVERTISEMENT Van Avermaet finished fifth in the 2015 Amstel Gold race and the new finale on narrow roads, but without the Cauberg climb, could help him be part of the decisive move. He will face Classics rivals Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) who won Amstel Gold in 2017, Sep Vanmarcke (EF Education First-Drapac), Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) and Sagan on Sunday. Other big name contenders include Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) and Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb). `Amstel Gold Race will be the last spring classic for me this year. I am always motivated to do well at the race because I like the parcours with the short climbs. We have a strong line up and I´m looking forward to racing on Sunday,` Van Avermaet said when BMC named its line-up. Directeur sportif Valerio Piva confirmed Van Avermaet as team leader but indicated BMC have several options. You can read more at Cyclingnews.com