18 years of professional career
Belgian cyclist Greg Van Avermaet, Olympic road champion at Rio 2016, announced Wednesday that he is retiring from professional cycling at the end of this season after an 18-year career.
Olympic medal
During his career, in addition to the Olympic medal, he has achieved major victories such as a Paris-Roubaix in 2017 and two stage wins in the Tour de France.
«A great adventure comes to an end»
«A great adventure comes to an end and I’m a little sad. It has been a very difficult decision to make, but when I look in the rear-view mirror, I feel extremely proud of my achievements,» Van Avermaet announced in a statement on his team’s website.
Classics specialist
The Belgian cyclist, a specialist in the spring classics, has 41 victories as a professional, but now wants to dedicate his life to enjoying life away from top-level racing.
Time for your family
«Now it’s time to dedicate time to my wife, my children and to give new directions to my life, hoping to find the same passion,» he revealed, thanking «everyone who believed» in him and «helped» him during his career.
