Omloop Het Niewsblad - Ghent, Belgium, February 29

Greg Van Avermaet was in a bullish mood discussing his form after the Volta ao Algarve last week ahead of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, the first cobbled Classic of the year.

- James Shrubsall

“I’m very happy with my condition at the moment,” he said. “I don’t think I have climbed better in my life. It gives me confidence, but we’ll have to wait and see what it will bring on the cobbles,” he told Dutch outlet Wielerflits at the Portuguese stage race.

The Belgian, who was second last year behind Zdenĕk Stybar (Deceuninck-Quick Step) will no doubt find his climbing legs come in useful at the 13-berg Omloop, which opens the Northern Classics season and mines some of the richest berg-filled seams in Flanders. Among these are big-name climbs from the Tour of Flanders, the Muur-Kapelmuur included.

“Am I still looking for confirmation for the Omloop? No. The condition is there,” added a confident Van Avermaet, who had ridden to 15th place on the first of the Algarve’s summit finishes.