Former soccer pro Van Damme aims to assist Bakelants and Van Avermaet in battle against 'Dutch Mafia' at Unbound

This coming Saturday, a new edition of the prestigious Unbound Gravel is on the schedule in Emporia. Once again, the so-called 'Dutch Mafia' will be at the start, but the Belgians are also bringing more people to Kansas: Jan Bakelants is participating for the second time, while Greg Van Avermaet, a former Paris-Roubaix winner, is joining for the first time.

Sporza is in the United States to follow both men. "I'm in better shape now," Bakelants said. "Last year I came here a bit like a tourist just to experience it. Now I've been able to train quite well for the last month and haven't drunk any alcohol. It felt good to take care of myself."

So what (and who) is he expecting from this race? "As the world champion of gravel, the pressure is on the shoulders of Matej Mohoric, who has traveled here with two Bahrain-Victorious teammates. Participating in the Tour de Unbound beforehand is an investment you make. With the jetlag included, I think that is a daring choice. But it also shows how quickly this sport is maturing."

"I think we can also expect something from Van Avermaet. He has always performed strongly in the classics, can handle long distances, and grows through the kilometers. Also, a diesel like Laurens ten Dam always does well in this race. Add Petr Vakoc and Paul Voss to that list, who have already earned their stripes. Niki Terpstra, as a Paris-Roubaix winner, also has an edge here. The similarities between that classic and what we have to do in Unbound Gravel are very big," said Bakelants.

Van Avermaet: "327 kilometers of slowly dying, that suits me"

Like we said, Van Avermaet is on the brink of his first time participating. "The stones here are very coarse. There are a few sections that are on the limit in terms of punctures and mishaps along the way. That makes it more annoying: you make the trip here, but there's a chance you end up on the side and can't achieve any results. Not having bad luck becomes an important factor," he said after his reconnaissance. "It's 327 kilometers of slowly dying. The strongest will emerge. I'm not afraid of that. This suits me."

"Mohoric will be the man to beat," Van Avermaet believes. "You notice that, once you've been a pro yourself. If a road racer participates, he will always be marked as a favorite. Because they still have that power. It's a bit strange for graveling that he has two teammates. You are allowed to change wheels here, so if his teammates really want to sacrifice themselves for him, he has a big advantage," said Van Avermaet, who also expects something from defending champion Keegan Swenson and former teammate Laurens ten Dam. "Although the latter is getting a bit older every year."

Former footballer Jelle Van Damme suddenly in gravel craze: "Want to work for Greg"

Sporza also caught up with former footballer Jelle Van Damme, not as a supporter or analyst, but as a participant in Unbound. Van Damme, who played for Ajax and Werder Bremen, among others, has become an avid cyclist after his soccer career, and it has really taken off. "I never thought I'd be sitting here for a cycling race. Greg persuaded me, so I mainly want to work for him."

And Van Damme is seriously in shape, he's not participating just for laughs. "I definitely want to finish it. But of course, you always want more and also like to achieve a decent result. And the legs are good. Greg gives me tips: if you ride smart and pace yourself well, you can go far. My goal is actually to stay with Greg as long as possible. If he then has mechanical issues, I can work for him... I'm willing to give up my wheels, because I think Greg can really get close," he talks about the goal to assist Van Avermaet as much as possible.

"To cover the distance, I will have to eat and drink well. The longest I've done on the road is 260 km," he continues. And his friend and partner in crime Van Avermaet trusts Van Damme implicitly. "Jelle is in shape and is feeling good. He has specifically prepared for this race. I think he can achieve something for me, but also for himself. He won't win, but he can certainly go far. It's not a must, but of course, it would be nice."