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
Greg Van Avermaet: Road riders at Gravel Worlds can only help make the sport bigger
By Barry Ryan published
News Belgian motivated to go again in 2023 Classics
10 riders to watch at inaugural Gravel World Championships
By Jackie Tyson published
Feature De Crescenzo, Ferrand-Prévot and Van der Poel, Blazevic headline elite matchups as road pros battle mountain bike specialists for rainbow rewards
Euro pro roadies take on the privateers at Gravel World Championships
By Stephen Farrand last updated
News Cromwell, Van der Poel, Van Avermaet, Sagan and even Miguel Angel López on official entry list
12 questions with Greg van Avermaet
By Cyclingnews last updated
Feature Cyclingnews talks to Greg Van Avermaet about training around the unusual 2020 season and bike choice as a pro
No Van Avermaet as AG2R Citröen centre Tour de France hopes on O'Connor
By Alasdair Fotheringham last updated
News Naesen and Cosnefroy also race while Belgian misses Tour selection for first time since 2013
Van Avermaet: I felt ready to ride the Tour de France
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
news Veteran Belgian star says non-selection for Tour is a 'big disappointment'
Cobbled recon for Van der Poel, Van Avermaet, Kwiatkowski and more - Gallery
By Cyclingnews published
Gallery Dress rehearsals for Hell of the North include passes along Trouée d'Arenberg sector for WorldTour teams
Tour of Flanders Men: 5 contenders, 5 outsiders
By Daniel Ostanek published
Feature Van der Poel the main favourite with Pidcock, Pogacar, Campenaerts and Asgreen also on our list
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'I have the chance to show the world how normal it should be to perform at a top level as a mother'