Rider Profile
Greg Van Avermaet
AG2R Citroën Team
Personal Details:
Teams history:
- 2023 - AG2R Citroën Team
- 2022 - AG2R Citroën Team
- 2021 - AG2R Citroën Team
- 2020 - CCC Team
- 2019 - CCC Team
- 2018 - BMC Racing Team
- 2017 - BMC Racing Team
- 2016 - BMC Racing Team
- 2015 - BMC Racing Team
- 2014 - BMC Racing Team
- 2013 - BMC Racing Team
- 2012 - BMC Racing Team
- 2011 - BMC Racing Team
- 2010 - Omega Pharma-Lotto
- 2009 - Silence - Lotto
- 2008 - Silence - Lotto
- 2007 - Predictor - Lotto
- 2006 - Bodysol- Win for Life - Jong Vlaanderen
Biography:
Over a 17-year pro road career, Greg Van Avermaet accumulated 42 victories, the defining win coming in 2016 with the gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games in the elite men’s road race. Over the following seasons Van Avermaet was recognisable in the peloton with his golden helmet, signifying his forever-title as Olympic champion.
He began racing as a junior in 2004 and then won the Belgian title in the junior men’s road race in 2006. His first four pro seasons, 2007-2010, were with the Lotto team and he went on to race for only two other programmes during his illustrious career, 10 years with BMC Racing turned CCC and three years with AG2R Citroën.
In his early years on the WorldTour, Van Avermaet won a stage at the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2011 Paris-Tours and twice won the overall at the Tour de Wallonie (2011 and 2013). In 2015 he made his first impressions at the Tour de France, winning the 198.5km stage 13 in Rodez and riding as part of BMC squad’s TTT victory on stage 9. The next year he won the second Tour stage of his career. With a large haul of top 5s in other years of the Tour, he also racked up 11 days in the yellow jersey at the 2016 and 2018 Tours.
It was in 2017 that the Belgian strongman had his best season in the Classics, winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem before sprinting home from a group of five riders to earn his rock trophy at Paris-Roubaix.
In 2022 he turned his Classics abilities to off-road pursuits and finished fourth overall at the inaugural UCI Gravel World Championships, finishing one second off the podium behind third-placed Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands).
Across his final season on the road at the age of 38, Van Avermaet erased a three-year victory drought with an emotional win at the one-day 2023 Boucles de l'Aulne.
"Winning the title changed my life,” the Belgian told Cyclingnews about his Olympic Games victory. “Since that win I've been reminded every day about the win. You meet other Olympic champions, and they want a photo. And it connects more than just the cycling world. It's been amazing to achieve that in my career."
Key Results
2023
🥇 Boucles de L’Aulne
2019
🥇 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
2018
🥉 E3 Harelbeke (also 2008)
2017
🥇 Paris-Roubaix
🥇 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
🥇 E3 Harelbeke
🥇 Gent-Wevelgem
🥇 Tour de Luxembourg
🥈 Strade Bianche (also 2015)
🥈 Tour of Flanders (also 2014)
🥈 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
2016
🥇 Olympic Games Road Race
🥇 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
🥇 Tour de France stage
🥇 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
🥇 Tirreno–Adriatico
🥈 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
2015
🥇 Tour de France stage
🥇 Tour of Belgium
🥉 Tour of Flanders
🥉 Paris–Roubaix
More
🥇 stage at Vuelta a España 2008
🥇 points classification at Vuelta a España 2008
🥇 Tour de Wallonie 2011, 2013
🥇 Paris–Tours 2011
🥇 Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen 2007
🥈 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2014
🥈 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec 2012
Related Articles
Van Avermaet receives 'Congratulations Greg, you're IN' message for Unbound 200
By Jackie Tyson published
News Olympic Champion turns from chasing Classics to grinding gravel in 2024 and a first trip to the Flint Hills in June
Greg Van Avermaet: I was just a cyclist, I wasn’t going to change the world
By Barry Ryan published
Interview 'Golden Greg' remains calm, humble and happy as he retires from chasing the Classics
Greg Van Avermaet aiming for one last Paris-Tours result before retirement
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
news Binche-Chimay-Binche and Paris-Tours round out career for highly-respected Belgian
Repeat Tour de France non-selection hits Van Avermaet hard in final season
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
news No space again in AG2R Citroen lineup for Greg Van Avermaet for second straight year
Greg Van Avermaet erases a nearly four-year drought with Boucles de l'Aulne victory
By Laura Weislo published
News Belgian out-kicks Vermeersch in UCI 1.1 race
Greg Van Avermaet announces retirement at end of 2023 season
By Daniel Ostanek published
News Belgian calls time on successful 17-year career which includes Olympic gold, Paris-Roubaix, and two Tour de France stages
Greg Van Avermaet to decide on racing future after Classics season
By Daniel Ostanek published
News 'I still enjoy racing, I try to give my best every day' says former Paris-Roubaix winner
Van Avermaet targets early Classics success at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
News Belgian back at Tour of Oman to stack-up warm-weather early-season race days
Blogs
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Road prep and adapting to new rules as Life Time Grand Prix begins at Fuego XL mountain bike event
Lauren De Crescenzo uses The Growler for confidence boost ride ahead of prestigious off-road series -
'Untapped gold' in store for inaugural RADL GRVL in South Australia
Nathan Haas calls gravel course 'raw, fast, exciting' after pre-ride with co-founder Valtteri Bottas -
UCI Gravel Worlds - new course, same criticisms cast doubt on event
Nathan Haas hears feedback from fellow riders on course elevation being 'selective without being stupid' -
Nathan Haas blog: We need to talk about the Unbound mud pit
Was it wrong to not re-route the course? -
Ellen van Dijk - Leading by example
'I have the chance to show the world how normal it should be to perform at a top level as a mother'