The Olympic champion was consistent throughout the spring, but he was unable to torment the podium and candidly said he lacked support at key moments in the race.

He was optimistic about the group formed when BMC Racing became a CCC team, with Guillaume Van Keersburg, Nathan Van Hooydonk, Gijs Van Hecke, and Lukasz Wisniowski joining Michael Schaal, who remained with the team. However, despite positive signs in the early races and training, the team fell flat at the crucial point.

At the team's training camp last month, Van Kersbulck explained to Cycling News that they had all done too much, too fast.

"The problem last year was that we rode really hard in training camp. It was a new team and a new group for Greg, so everybody was really motivated. As a result, everyone got into shape too quickly.

"When I looked at everyone's condition, everyone was already flying in Valencia and Oman. Then when we went to the Classic, everyone was in bad shape and we didn't have enough people. We started working too early. It was tough."

Not a mistake they would make twice.

"I think the team knows the problems we had last year. Everyone is a little more comfortable. Because that's a lot better than pushing yourself and getting sick."

Van Kersbulck's own performance in 2019 was further exacerbated by a string of crashes and health problems.

He had a fever for three days before his first race in Valencia and was sick again during the opening weekend of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Kuhne Brusselkuhne. After a post-classic rest, a wound on his elbow from a crash festered and he was unable to make the Tour de France team, returning to action at the Tour de Wallonie with food poisoning.

"The whole season was like that.

"My hematocrit level went up and down because I was always sick and weak. I was really disappointed because I was ready to let Greg win the race."

In 2020, Van Kelsbulck will not only be helping Van Avermaert win races, but also the newest addition to the CCC team, Matteo Trentin. Both have been with Quick Step and ran for the Belgian team from 2012 to 2016.

"I think Matteo will go his own way a bit, as he has in previous years. In Orica he sometimes found his way in the group, and in fact, sometimes he didn't need the team. In a sprint you need a team, but not in a classic," Van Kersbulck said. [Greg and Matteo have a good relationship. Greg doesn't have problems with other riders and Matteo is a classy guy. Sometimes they have discussions on the bus after the race, but there shouldn't be any problems. Quick Step is like that too."