Cycling-Former Olympic champion Van Avermaet to retire

Belgium's former Olympic road race champion Greg Van Avermaet will retire at the end of the season, his AG2R CITROEN team said on Wednesday. This decision was very difficult to make, but when I look in the rear view mirror, I am extremely proud of my achievements," Van Avermaet said in a statement.

Belgium's former Olympic road race champion Greg Van Avermaet will retire at the end of the season, his AG2R CITROEN team said on Wednesday. The 37-year-old classics specialist crowned his career at the 2016 Rio Olympics when he won a thrilling men's race.

"A great adventure is ending and I'm a little sad. This decision was very difficult to make, but when I look in the rear view mirror, I am extremely proud of my achievements," Van Avermaet said in a statement. "I gave the best of myself every day, simply so I would have no regrets. Not only did I enjoy my victories, but also the path leading up to them."

Van Avermaet spent 18 years on the professional circuit and collected 41 victories, including Paris-Roubaix in 2017, two stages on the Tour de France and one on the Vuelta Espana.