Tour de FranceNot. Maybe. But definitely not. Were those ‘Tours’ again, Greg Van Avermaet (37). So no Douce France. Well Viva Espana! On vacation, with Ellen and the girls. The tale of sixteen crazy hours.
It was just after eight on Wednesday evening, when AG2R announced Bob Jungels’ positive corona test “with limited viral load”. A new check, Thursday morning, had to decide on the deployability of the Luxembourger. The result would not be known until Thursday, around noon. So all hands on deck in the house of ‘first reserve’ Greg Van Avermaet, who was preparing for a possible raid. “I already prepared my suitcase. ‘Otherwise it will be quite a rush to leave’, I thought, knowing that my flight to Copenhagen the next day was already booked at 4.30 pm.” The news fell on a cold stone for wife Ellen and daughters Fleur and Roos. “Ellen wasn’t really pleased. Understandable, because after my non-selection last week, I had turned the switch in my head and made other plans. We would go on holiday to Spain with the children. ‘There is a chance that daddy will still have to go to the Tour,’ I informed Fleur. (grins) She didn’t like that too much, of course.”
bit strange
No matter how crazy the situation at first sight, Van Avermaet didn’t lose a minute of sleep. It was what it was. “A little strange, yes. But with that new Covid outbreak I could expect it somewhere. That’s how it is at the moment, isn’t it.” The rider did not deviate from his daily biorhythm. “I got up on time and started cycling for an hour. Then I got ready. My clothes from the squad put on. (laughs) I was already wearing my compression stockings for the plane. I was prepared for a ‘yes’, ready to go.” Meanwhile, Van Avermaet’s head remained calm. “It could go both ways. So I hadn’t completely ‘clicked’ yet. And I resolved not to be disappointed again if it were still ‘no’.”
‘Dad will stay at home after all’, we informed Fleur after school. “I’m so happy,” she responded. Nice that there are still people who like me, isn’t it?
12.02 pm yesterday afternoon – what timing! “The result of a new PCR test confirms that Jungels is ‘pas contagieux’”, reports AG2R. So not contagious. As a result, the rider can/may start perfectly. In Dendermonde, three quarters of the Van Avermaet family is doing a happy dance. Papa Greg removes his compression stockings. Definitely, this time. “’Dad will stay at home after all’, we informed Fleur immediately after school. “I’m so happy,” she responded. (laughs) Nice to see that there are still people who like me, isn’t it.” Strange, Van Avermaet continues to find it. “I kind of assumed that that new test would confirm the previous one. But luckily for Bob, that wasn’t the case. And can he ride the Tour. Good that the team can remain as it was composed. I wish them every success!”
Pony camp in Spain
Whereupon life at the Van Avermaets could continue as normal. “Fortunately, we hadn’t canceled anything that we had already planned. And Fleur is perfect for pony camp.” For the rest: Spain, here they come! “By bike. Because I will of course continue to do my job and continue training. It doesn’t stop at the Tour. I want to stay in shape, make something of my season and have a good autumn riding. Perhaps I will resume on July 23 in the Tour de Wallonia, a race that I have already won twice. Do I tarry for revenge? No, I’m not like that. As a top athlete I am used to quickly getting over disappointments and not to take them in a negative way. I will also now do what I have always done: my very best.”
Jungels: “It’s been a tough day”
“I am very happy”, says Bob Jungels now that he can still go to the Tour. “It’s been a tough day for me. That positive test was a big surprise, the negative one this morning was a great relief. I’m feeling good. I look forward to starting this Tour. I haven’t heard from Greg yet, no. It’s a difficult situation. I am very happy to be here, he is probably a lot less there at home. But it is what it is. Like I said, I’m happy to be here.”
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