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
Home favourite Greg Van Avermaet tips Mathieu van der Poel for elite men's win at UCI Gravel World Championships
By Jackie Tyson published
News 'You have to be in front' as narrow roads, punchy climbs will make Sunday's race difficult say Belgian
A trip through time: How the Olympic Road Race-winning bikes have changed since Beijing
By Alex Hunt published
Olympics From 2008 to 2021, what bikes and tech made it to the podium's top step, and what will we see in Paris?
Greg Van Avermaet overcomes 'mentally hard' Unbound Gravel to take top 10 finish
By Jackie Tyson published
News Belgian forced to chase back after two punctures but pleased to make it back into the mix
‘Matej Mohorič will be the rider to beat’ - Greg Van Avermaet names Gravel World Champion as Unbound favourite
By Stephen Farrand published
News ‘Unbound is 327 km of slowly dying’ says former Paris-Roubaix and Olympic road race winner
'I'm a little scared' - Greg Van Avermaet to channel Paris-Roubaix cobbles experience at Unbound Gravel
By Kirsten Frattini published
News 'Gravel racing is also more about luck; you have to be lucky'
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 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
Blogs
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Nathan Haas blog: Has the UCI done enough for gravel pros at the Gravel World Championships?
Sponsored gravel riders appear to be losing interest in the rainbow jersey battle -
Lauren De Crescenzo and her tough decision to miss UCI Gravel World Championships
In her own words, the gravel star explains the complex picture of the Gravel World Championships for the US team -
A proper women's race – Historic day in Emporia at Unbound Gravel
Extended gaps around women's start end with unprecedented sprint finish though 'it’s still imperfect, but it’s the best we can do for now' -
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