Team News: Van Avermaet Leads CCC Team at Binck Bank Tour

Greg Van Avermaet will lead CCC Team’s Binck Bank Tour (formerly Eneco Tour) roster in Belgium and the Netherlands next week when the UCI WorldTour seven-day stage race gets underway on Monday (12 August)

Team News: Van Avermaet Leads CCC Team at Binck Bank Tour

Greg Van Avermaet will lead CCC Team’s Binck Bank Tour roster in Belgium and the Netherlands next week when the UCI WorldTour seven-day stage race gets underway on Monday (12 August).

Sports Director Valerio Piva said that CCC Team will be taking a strong and well-rounded group of riders that can not only support Van Avermaet but who can also try to take their own opportunities.

“We will have the same objective as we have had at previous editions of this race and that is to support Greg Van Avermaet. We saw at Clásica de San Sebastián that he came out of the Tour de France in good shape and so, naturally, he will be our leader and we will look to help him go for a good result overall. I think, like every year, the race will be decided on the stage to Geraardsbergen, and we know Greg performs well there, so that will be an important day together with the short time trial and also the stage in Houffalize,” Piva explained.

“Overall, we have a strong and motivated group of riders lining up and as we are not the outright favorites, we can look to give the other guys the chance to do something. The opening stages suit a bunch sprint so, for those, we have Jakub Mareczko, who we will try to get into a good position. I think Josef Černý can look to do a good time trial and then, of course, our two other Belgians, Gijs Van Hoecke and Guillaume Van Keirsbulck really know the parcours. Michael Schär, who has a lot of experience here too, and Łukasz Wiśniowski also came out of the Tour in good shape so, I think we are prepared to race well and I expect that we will really be pushing for a good result.”

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Van Avermaet will return to Binck Bank Tour to target the General Classification after showing consistently strong form at the last five editions of the race. “Binck Bank Tour is a race that has always suited me in the past and it’s one that I always like coming back to. I was happy with my performance in San Sebastián and I was able to show that I still have some strong form in my legs. Once again, my goal here will be to try to go for a good result in the General Classification. I think the stages in Houffalize and Geraardsbergen, as well as the short time trial, will be the most important and I am feeling really motivated. We will see how my body reacts but, overall, I think we have a strong team and I’m looking forward to the race ahead,” Van Avermaet said.

Binck Bank Tour (12 – 18 August)

Rider Roster: Josef Černý (CZE), Jakub Mareczko (ITA), Michael Schär (SUI), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Gijs Van Hoecke (BEL), Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (BEL), Łukasz Wiśniowski (POL)

Sports Director: Valerio Piva (ITA), Steve Bauer (CAN)