Back in December 2016, RJ Cycling Camps was invited to the BMC Racing Team launch for the 2017 season.  The team launch was held at their winter training base which is used by RJs for our camps.

RJs was given the opportunity to spend a day with the team and staff, interview riders, check out their impressive new equipment, meet the new sponsors and head out on a training ride.

At the time of the launch, Greg van Avermaet, the new Olympic champion, was still recovering from a training accident in November, where he had fractured his ankle. When asked how the ankle was after surgery, Greg said it was healing well but he still needed to walk round with a crutch for support.  He had only been back on the bike for a week so needed to be careful not to do too much too soon.

Greg said he was interested to see how he felt going into the Classics after a lot less training due to the injury, as normally he would go “full gas” into training during the winter, and admitted that in previous years he may have done too much.  He went on to say he felt more relaxed and fresh at this stage of the year than before, so if his races went well he may have found a new way to train during the winter months!

So could it be that the lighter training schedule forced upon Greg, could be the secret to the huge success he has had so far in 2017 ?

• Winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
• 7th in Kuurne-Brussesl-Kuurne the next day
• 2nd in Strade Bianche
• Winning E3 Harelbeke in a three-man sprint
• Winning Gent-Wevelgem two days later
• 2nd in Tour of Flanders
• Winning his first monument at Paris-Roubaix

This impressive palmares has also shot Greg up to the top of the UCI World Tour rider standings by some margin over current World Champion Peter Sagan.

As we write this blog, Greg now sets his sights on the Amstel Gold race over the Easter weekend, which was one of his main aims back in December on his road to recovery.

So for those of you who are hard at it on the roads and turbos during winter, take a step back to see if you could be over-doing it and don’t feel guilty for having a little rest every now and again.  It could just be the secret to your own future successes!