Former Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet to retire at end of season

Greg Van Avermaet will end his professional cycling career at the end of this season. The cyclist from East Flanders, who turns 38 this month, announced his retirement via his social media on Wednesday.

Van Avermaet is one of the most successful Belgian cyclists of the past decade. Besides his 2016 Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he has won Paris-Roubaix, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

He was also a prolific cyclist in the Tour de France, with two stage wins and eight days in the yellow jersey. He also secured stage wins in the Vuelta and Paris-Tours and won the general classification of both the Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour of Belgium.

"Unfortunately, this adventure is coming to an end. However difficult the decision has been, looking back I'm incredibly proud of my achievements," Van Avermaet said on Instagram. He also thanked his fans and his team, AG2R-Citroën. "Hopefully I can still get great results and finish in style!"

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