Greg Van Avermaet’s wife, Ellen Jessel, prefers to stay away from all the cameras. At the Crystal Bicycle Gala, she wanted to make an exception for “Golden Greg”‘s retirement for once. Together with her daughter, Fleur, she took the microphone and read a particularly emotional message. “It was more than wonderful, more than we could have imagined. You never think of giving up, I am so proud of you. I was not on my way to be with the children, but I always watched you on TV with great pride. You always stayed the same and wanted “Do good for everyone. You are a wonderful father. We look forward to having you closer to us now. I am proud of you the way you are.”
Van Avermaet was visibly emotional. He had a hard time and had to wipe away some tears.
Greg Van Avermaet thus concludes a seventeen-year career, which began in 2006 with Bodysol-Win for Life-Jong Vlaanderen. Via Lotto, where Van Avermaet won the points jersey at the Vuelta, he ended up at BMC in 2011, where he achieved his greatest success. In 2017 Paris-Roubaix and in 2018 gold medal at the Olympic Games in Rio. In 2019, “Golden Greg” signed with CCC, beginning his final three professional years in AG2R in 2021.
After that captivating moment on “Crystal Bike,” Van Avermaet presented the “Team Captain of the Year” trophy. Find out the winner here.
See all about Crystal Bike 2023 here:
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