Van Avermaet wins Tour of Luxembourg

Luxembourg - Olympic road race champion Greg Van Avermaet continued his powerful run of early season form on Sunday clinching the Tour of Luxembourg.

The gritty Belgian, who won the partially cobbled Paris Roubaix monument race in April, came first on three stages and twice on two to win by 29 second from Xandro Meurisse and 36 second on third placed Anthony Perez.

"I'm still not quite at the top of my form," said the 32-year-old who will be helping BMC co-leaders Richie Porte and Tejay van Garderen in next month's Tour de France.

"I want to win a stage on the Tour this year," said Van Avermaet, who won stages in both 2015 and 2016 and will be relishing a Tour packed with opportunities for a powerful puncher of his stature.

Tour of Luxembourg results following the fourth and final stage on Sunday:

Stage:

1. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 174.6km in 4hr 46min 8sec, 2. Alex Kirsch (LUX), 3. Xandro Meurisse (BEL) both same time, 4. Luis Mate (ESP) at 3sec, 5. Alessandro Bisolti (ITA) at 4sec

General classification:

1. Van Avermaet 18hr 27min 50sec, 2. Meurisse at 29sec, 3. Anthony Perez (FRA) at 36, 4. Benjamin Thomas (BEL) at 40, 5. Huub Duijn (NED) at 40