Greg van Avermaet's first win with AG2R "is emotional"

Greg van Avermaet had last won a race in the 2019 GP de Montréal. In 2021 he moved to AG2R Citroën Team as it's new leader and with a big part of the team's budget, however he had not so far delivered. At the Boucles de l'Aulne this Sunday, he took his first win with the French team.

“It is emotional. Winning is a very special feeling and it has been a long time since I was allowed to put my arms in the air again. This is what we are all looking for when we start racing," van Avermaet said after the race. Specifically after season and a half with virtually no results to show for, the Belgian has decided to end his career after a long stint in the peloton.

However he wasn't to retire without one last win. More may come later in the year, but this triumph has become more important than one could've imagined years back. “Since the beginning of my professional career, I have always done my job 100 percent. The last few years have not been easy, but I have always remained motivated."

"I am very happy to be able to put my arms in the air for the first time in the AG2R Citroën shirt. It's a nice way to thank them." The French race saw AG2R on the attack, and with the good form he's recently shown he was a contender.

However it was a difficult one, the hilly race saw only a few riders make it to the finish within a shot of victory. It was to be van Avermaet's day, who sprinted towards victory in the way he used to in past years. This will be a motivating victory and not the last day in the current block of French races he's taking on.

“I still have a few races before I retire and I still want to get some results. This gives me confidence. Next week I will ride the 4 Jours de Dunkerque. There are two finales that I like. We'll see how it goes. I want to enjoy this very successful weekend," he concluded.