Greg Van Avermaet took another stop forward last year proving himself as a worthy BMC Racing leader in the Flemish classics campaign, but is yet to claim a victory matching his incredible potential. Sports director of the American WorldTour squad, Valerio Piva, believes that such moment should arrive this season, but notes that the 29-year old Belgian needs to race smarter in order to turn himself into a winner.

„He was very close last year,” Piva told Sporza. „He remains motivated and mentally strong.”

While after coming agonizingly close to a victory on countless occasions an opinion started to circulate that Van Avermaet lacks spark or winner's attitude to ever turn his runner up spots into victories, Piva insists that it's more about his energy wasting style of riding in opening phases of races than insufficient mental strength.

All the same the BMC Racing sports director acknowledges that the 2015 season will be crucial for the 29-year old Belgian and he needs to break the drought in order to prove his critics wrong.

„Greg is missing that big win. Everyone keeps on saying that he is not a winner, but a difference between riders finishing first and second usually isn't that big. It has to happen now, though, otherwise he will prove his critics right.”

„I trust him. With and experience gained in recent years and conclusions drawn from his mistakes he should be able to win,” Piva insisted.

Asked more specifically about mentioned mistakes, Piva once again explained that in case of Van Avermaet it all comes down to his energy wasting aggressive attitude and inability to let other riders work for him.

„Greg is leaded by his instinct and sometimes he does too much. Then, when you talk to him after the race, he usually denies it, but sometimes he should take advantage of particular situations by following other riders' wheels.”

„He is honest and gives all of himself, more than the others. That's beautiful to watch, but in order to win one has to spare himself. Thanks to his aggressiveness he shows himself off and makes the race, but in the end second and third places are added to his palmares. Ocassionally you just have to be hard, a little bit of a basterd,” he concluded.