Van Avermaet: I don't have many chances left to win the real Tour of Flanders

Greg Van Avermaet finished 15th on the climb
Van Avermaet at the Volta ao Algarve earlier this year (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

CCC Team's Greg Van Avermaet was first across the virtual Tour of Flanders finish line in Oudenaarde on Sunday, winning the 'lockdown edition' of the Tour of Flanders – a 34-kilometre online simulation E-sports race on static trainers. However the 34-year-old Belgian fears the coronavirus pandemic could rob him of one of his last chances to win the real thing.

Van Avermaet did not hide his distaste for riding indoors but wanted to provide some entertainment for fans and also represent his sponsors at a time when his team are cutting salaries and staff.

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Patrick Fletcher

Patrick is an NCTJ-trained journalist, and former deputy editor of Cyclingnews, who has seven years’ experience covering professional cycling. He has a modern languages degree from Durham University and has been able to put it to some use in what is a multi-lingual sport, with a particular focus on French and Spanish-speaking riders. Away from cycling, Patrick spends most of his time playing or watching other forms of sport - football, tennis, trail running, darts, to name a few, but he draws the line at rugby.