Over the course of the 330-kilometre race, the 2016 Olympic street race champion was suffering from mechanicals. Because the peloton averaged greater than 35 kph, he blindly adopted wheels, and 3 times, his tyres had been punctured by rocks as sharp as weapons. However as a real champion, Van Avermaet fought again — fixing flats, chasing again on, repeating the sample for the primary 245 kilometres of the race, till he was lastly in a position to get a wheel change on the second supported support station.
“It took a lot vitality to return again on [to the group during] the primary a part of the race that I in all probability misplaced locations due to that,” Van Avermaet stated. “However in the long run, I used to be additionally fairly completely satisfied in regards to the seventh place. It’s fairly first rate for doing that massive race and having two flats, and many others. I may have additionally ended up fifteenth with the identical legs and two flats. So, yeah, in the long run, I nonetheless made an honest, good end result.”
Whereas Van Avermaet was completely satisfied together with his end result, it was unclear if he’d ever return to Unbound once more. The race is infamous for relentlessly testing the bodily and psychological limits of athletes. Even the previous Gravel World Champion, Matej Mohorič , DNF’d the 2024 race after cracking a rim and vowed to stay to street racing.
On the time, Van Avermaet appeared to have an identical mindset and laughed on the concept of returning, stating: “Now shouldn’t be the very best time to ask. I believe if you happen to ask all people now, the reply will at all times be no.”
However lo and behold: Van Avermaet is again for 2025.
The 2017 winner of Paris-Roubaix — the “Hell of the North” — is aware of find out how to undergo. In any case, coping with adversarial situations, together with mechanicals or foul climate, is a part of the DNA of Belgian cyclists. They know find out how to struggle again, regardless of the problem.
“The largest cause why I’m coming again [to Unbound] is simply because on the finish of the yr, I used to be considering which races swimsuit me the very best and Unbound
Whereas 10 hours of intense racing could appear formidable to most, Van Avermaet has greater than 15 years of WorldTour expertise in his legs — one thing that pays dividends in lengthy, tactical races like Unbound.
“I additionally really feel like on the opposite gravel races [I’ve done], the longer the gap goes, the higher I really feel. So, [Unbound is] in all probability one of many races that may match me a little bit bit higher after getting extra aged and having so many kilometres within the legs.” he stated.
Nevertheless, this yr Van Avermaet isn’t simply at Unbound for himself. He’s constructed a staff, GVA Gold, comprised of three riders, together with himself. Jelle Van Damme, a former skilled footballer turned gravel bicycle owner, and newcomer Julian Siemons, who positioned sixth at Ranxo Gravel in 2024, spherical out the squad.
“[Siemons] is anticipating a variety of Unbound. It’s type of cool to have a little bit little bit of a youthful man with us to share our expertise with, and in addition he’s able to a great end result. I believe if he has a great day, he can get within the high 20,” Van Avermaet stated. “I’d love that he simply discovers himself and sees how far he can come. I believe it’s far more necessary than having him as a assist for me.”
Van Avermaet recognises that racing Unbound requires a staff — and that it’s simply as necessary to share his information and expertise with the following technology of athletes.
“I believe you can not [race Unbound] by yourself and that’s additionally the nice feeling that we skilled final yr — that it was not seventh place just for myself but additionally for the individuals who took care of me the entire week. Simply having the issues proper on the feed zone, nutrition-wise, cleansing the bikes, and many others., and many others. That was, for me, an awesome expertise. Like I stated, it’s simply type of like what I felt earlier than with street racing — that when you might have an expert staff, you may attain targets.”
Earlier than Unbound in 2024, Van Avermaet didn’t know what to anticipate. By no means having raced Unbound — or any gravel occasion within the U.S. — there have been a variety of unknowns. This yr is sort of completely different. He is aware of the course. He is aware of the terrain. He is aware of to count on something. And he additionally is aware of the calibre of racing is rising. However his final aim is straightforward: have a race freed from issues and trip as onerous as he can for 200 miles.
“I simply need to don’t have any issues. I believe that’s, for me, the largest [goal]. I’d be glad with the outcomes… if I can simply set free all my vitality on that day. It doesn’t matter what the result’s, I will likely be completely satisfied, I believe.”
