Greg Van Avermaet knows how to win again. In his bye year, he took victory for the first time since September 2019. The Belgian from AG2R was faster than Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Dstny) at Boucles de l’Aulne.
Montreal Grand Prix, September 2019.
It’s been a long time since Greg Van Avermaet has been allowed to party on a bike. The Belgian from AG2R announced his retirement earlier this year. He has now brightened up his final months as a professional cyclist with a quick win.
After eight local 8.5km runs – including a 4% hill – Van Avermaet was fastest of the elite group of ten riders. He beat Florian Vermeersch and Spaniard John Barnetxea (Caja Rural – Seguros Riga).
Another victory for the 37-year-old Flanders after a 44-month drought. The team couldn’t hide their excitement on Twitter.
Emotional Van Avermaet: “My first victory for AG2R”
His 42nd professional victory was perhaps one of the most emotional of his career, as Greg Van Avermaet himself admits. “I’m so happy. This is really emotional.”
“Winning is a special feeling and I haven’t been able to experience that for a long time. I can still show nice things on a somewhat slashed finish.”
Van Avermaet is glad he can show he won’t be a tourist on his way to retirement. “I have always done my job 100% since the beginning of my career.”
“The last few years haven’t been easy, but I’ve always been motivated. I’m so happy to win in AG2R for the first time. Great way to thank the team.”
Joy in the AG2R Employer:
| Boucles de L’Aulne score | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greg Van Avermaet | Citroen AG2R Team | 4h 21’06” |
| 2 | Florian Vermeersch | Dstny Lotto | zt |
| 3 | John Barnetxia | Rural Caja – Seguros RGA | zt |
| 4 | Marco Teza | WB bingo | zt |
| 5 | Clement Venturini | Citroen AG2R Team | zt |
| 6 | Axel Zengel | covidis | zt |
| 7 | Samuel Watson | Groupama – FDJ | zt |
| 8 | Luca van Boven | WB bingo | zt |
| 9 | Roman Gregoire | Groupama – FDJ | zt |
| 10 | Sandy Dujardin | Total energy | zt |
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