Greg Van Avermaet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Greg Van Avermaet

Greg Van Avermaet, 2022 Paris–Roubaix.
Personal information
Full name	Greg Van Avermaet
Nickname	Avi GVA King of Flanders
Born	(1985-05-17) 17 May 1985 (age 40) Lokeren, Flanders, Belgium
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Weight	74 kg (163 lb; 11 st 9 lb)
Team information
Current team	Team Last Dance
Discipline	Gravel
Role	Rider
Rider type	Classics specialist Puncheur
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France 2 individual stages (2015, 2016) 2 TTT stages (2015, 2018) Vuelta a España Points classification (2008) 1 individual stage (2008) Stage races Tirreno–Adriatico (2016) Tour of Belgium (2015) Tour de Wallonie (2011, 2013) Tour de Luxembourg (2017) Tour de Yorkshire (2018) One-day races and Classics Olympic Games Road Race (2016) Paris–Roubaix (2017) Gent–Wevelgem (2017) E3 Harelbeke (2017) GP de Montréal (2016, 2019) Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (2016, 2017) Paris–Tours (2011) Other UCI World Tour (2017) UCI World Ranking (2017)

Greg Van Avermaet (born 17 May 1985) is a famous Belgian cyclist who recently retired. He was known for being a very skilled and all-around cyclist. Greg was especially good at classic cycle races, which are tough one-day events. He also won stages and overall titles in stage races, especially on hilly courses.

Some of his biggest wins include the Olympic Games Road Race in 2016. He also won major one-day races like Paris–Roubaix, Gent–Wevelgem, and E3 Harelbeke all in 2017. In the famous Tour de France, Greg won two individual stages and wore the special Yellow Jersey for eleven days. He also won the points competition in the Vuelta a España. In 2017, he was the overall winner of the 2017 UCI World Tour, which ranks the best cyclists in the world.

Greg joined the AG2R Citroën Team team in 2021. He stopped racing professionally in 2023. His very last race was Paris-Tours.

Greg Van Avermaet's Cycling Journey

Starting Out in Cycling

Greg Van Avermaet grew up in a family of cyclists. Both his father and grandfather were professional riders. He was even named after the famous American cyclist Greg LeMond. Greg started bike racing when he was 19 years old. Before that, he played football as a goalkeeper. In 2006, at age 21, he became the Belgian amateur champion.

First Professional Years (2007–2010)

Van Avermaet (pictured in 2007) raced four years for the Predictor–Lotto team.

In 2007, Greg became a professional cyclist with the Predictor–Lotto team. He won four races in his first year. This included a stage in the Tour of Qatar and the Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen race in Belgium.

2008

A Big Year

Van Avermaet at the 2008 Vuelta a Espana

The year 2008 was a breakthrough for Greg. He finished third in E3 Harelbeke and eighth in his second Tour of Flanders. He also won stages in the Tour de Wallonie and Tour de l'Ain.

His biggest achievement was in the Vuelta a España, a major three-week race. He won stage 9 by winning a sprint against other riders. He also won the Vuelta's overall points competition. At the end of 2008, Belgian journalists gave him the Flandrien of the Year award.

2009–2010

Learning and Growing

In 2009, Greg raced in his first Tour de France. He didn't win a stage but showed good form. In 2010, he finished fifth in the World Road Race Championships. He decided to leave his team at the end of 2010.

Joining BMC and First Classic Win (2011)

Van Avermaet took his first classic victory at the 2011 Paris–Tours, after a two-man sprint with Italian Marco Marcato.

In 2011, Greg joined the BMC Racing Team team. He had a strong spring season, often attacking in races. He finished second in the Tour of Belgium.

Later that year, he won a stage and the points competition in the Tour of Austria. He also won the overall title and a stage in the Tour de Wallonie. In October, he achieved his first big "classic" race win at Paris–Tours. He beat Marco Marcato in a sprint to the finish line.

Mister Almost Years (2012–2014)

2012

Close Calls

Van Avermaet at the 2012 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec

In 2012, Greg often came very close to winning major races. He finished fourth in the Tour of Flanders, one of the most important classic races. He also placed second in the Grand Prix de Québec, losing in a sprint.

2013

More Podiums

Van Avermaet celebrating victory on Stage 1 of the 2013 Tour of Utah

Greg continued to show strong performances in 2013. He finished third in Gent–Wevelgem and fourth in Paris–Roubaix. He also won two stages and the overall title in the Tour de Wallonie. He won a stage in the Tour of Utah as well. For his strong year, he won his second Flandrien of the Year award.

2014

Still Chasing a Big Win

Van Avermaet at the 2014 Tour de France

In 2014, Greg was again very close to winning a major classic. He finished second in both Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Tour of Flanders. He made his return to the Tour de France. Later, he won two smaller races, the Grand Prix de Wallonie and the GP Impanis-Van Petegem. He finished fifth at the World Championships. He received his third Flandrien of the Year award.

Tour de France Stage Win and Olympic Gold (2015–2016)

2015

First Tour de France Stage

In the spring of 2015 Van Avermaet was third in both the Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix. (pictured on the podium of Paris–Roubaix with John Degenkolb and Zdeněk Štybar)

In 2015, Greg continued to shine in the classics. He finished second in Strade Bianche and third in both the Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix. He also won a stage in Tirreno–Adriatico and the overall title at the Tour of Belgium.

A big moment came in the Tour de France. His team won a team time trial, and then Greg won stage 13 in a sprint. This was his first individual stage win in the Tour.

Van Avermaet at the team presentation in Utrecht for the 2015 Tour de France, in which he won stage 13 – an uphill sprint in Rodez.

Later, in the Clásica de San Sebastián race, he was hit by a motorbike. This stopped him from finishing the race. At the end of the year, he was named the best Belgian cyclist, winning the Crystal Bicycle and Flandrien of the Year awards.

2016

Olympic Champion

Van Avermaet on the podium of 2016 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad with his daughter Fleur, Peter Sagan (left) and Tiesj Benoot (right).

Greg started 2016 by winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. He then won the overall title at Tirreno–Adriatico, a major stage race. He broke his collarbone in the Tour of Flanders but recovered quickly.

In July, he won stage 5 of the Tour de France. This win also put him in the famous yellow jersey, which he wore for three days.

Van Avermaet won the Olympic road race, finishing near Fort Copacabana, at the Rio Olympics.

On 6 August 2016, Greg achieved his biggest dream: he won the Olympic road race at the Rio Olympics. He caught the lead rider in the final kilometers and won a sprint to take the gold medal. This was a huge moment for him and for Belgium.

Later that year, he won the Grand Prix de Montréal. He finished the year ranked among the top cyclists in the world.

King of the Spring Classics (2017)

In 2017, Greg had an amazing spring season, earning him the nickname "King of the Classics." He won his second straight Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. He then won E3 Harelbeke and Gent–Wevelgem. This was a rare achievement, as only one other rider had done this before.

Van Avermaet claimed his first career monument win at the 2017 Paris–Roubaix. (Pictured in third position in the lead group at 26 kilometres (16 miles) from the finish)

He was a favorite for the Tour of Flanders but crashed while chasing the leader, finishing second. However, on 9 April 2017, Greg won Paris–Roubaix, one of cycling's most famous "monument" races. He overcame a mechanical problem and then outsprinted his rivals at the Roubaix Velodrome to claim his first monument victory. This was a historic win for him.

He ended 2017 as the world's number one cyclist in the UCI World Ranking and UCI World Tour.

Wearing the Yellow Jersey Again (2018)

Van Avermaet wore the yellow jersey for eight days at the 2018 Tour de France. (pictured in the breakaway during stage 9 to Roubaix)

In 2018, Greg won the Tour of Yorkshire. He also won a stage in the Tour of Oman. In the Tour de France, his team won the team time trial. This put Greg in the yellow jersey again, which he wore for eight days. He finished second on a tough cobbled stage to Roubaix.

He continued to perform well in other races, finishing second in the Grand Prix de Québec and third in the Grand Prix de Montréal.

Later Career and Retirement (2019–2023)

Van Avermaet at the 2019 Tour de France

In 2019, Greg's team changed its name to CCC Pro Team. He won a stage in the Tour of Valencia. He also had several podium finishes in classics, including second at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and third at E3 Binckbank Classic. In September, he won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal for the second time.

He continued racing until 2023. In his final year, he won the Boucles de l'Aulne race. His last professional race was Paris-Tours.

Doping Allegations (Cleared)

In 2015, there were some questions about Greg Van Avermaet related to anti-doping rules. However, after a full investigation, it was announced on 7 May 2015 that Greg was completely cleared of all accusations.

Major Achievements

Source:

Grand Tour Results

Grand Tour general classification results
Grand Tour	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Giro d'Italia	Did not race
Tour de France	—	—	85	—	—	—	—	38	DNF	44	58	28	36	50	97	—	—
/ Vuelta a España	—	66	—	49	82	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Major Stage Race Results

Race	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Paris–Nice	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	41	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tirreno–Adriatico	—	—	59	12	29	DNF	49	—	48	1	36	20	16	—	34	57	61
Critérium du Dauphiné	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	45	—	76	—	—	—	—	81	93	76
Tour de Suisse	—	54	82	43	60	DNF	121	—	33	—	48	29	48	NH	—	—	—

Classic Race Results

Championship Results

	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Olympic Games	NH	—	Not held			92	Not held			1	Not held				DNF	Not held
World Championships	62	17	44	5	175	25	23	5	23	10	6	50	8	21	—	—	—
National Championships	30	4	4	4	27	27	7	9	3	3	62	14	18	31	29	40	45

Awards and Recognition

• Crystal Bicycle Best Professional Cyclist: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
• Flandrien of the Year: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
• Vlaamse Reus: 2016
• Belgian Sportsman of the Year: 2016
• Honorary Citizen of Dendermonde: 2016
• VeloNews: Classics Rider of the Year: 2017
• Swiss Mendrisio d'Or: 2017

See also

In Spanish: Greg Van Avermaet para niños