'I have no options in this team anymore': Greg Van Avermaet confirms he'll leave CCC Team
The Olympic champion has been with the team since 2011


Greg Van Avermaet has confirmed that he will be leaving CCC Team at the end of 2021; the team he has ridden with for just over nine years through its various guises.
The Classics star has previously said that he is willing to wait and see if his current team could find a new sponsor but he now says he has "no options" but to leave and join a new team for the 2021 season.
Speaking to Sporza (opens in new tab), the Olympic champion said: "I've given my manager the green light to look at other teams. I have no options in this team anymore.
"At the moment it does not look like this team will continue. Jim Ochowicz keeps looking, but I can't wait. Other possibilities now need to be worked out in detail. I hope it will be completed in a few weeks."
It has been rumoured for some time that the 35-year-old may be looking at going elsewhere with multiple teams said to be interested.
"Different teams are interested. It is important for my manager Dries Smets to work out everything and to put forward a concrete offer. Then I can make a decision," Van Avermaet said.
"I'll try to get the best out of it, financially and also on the sporting side."
Israel Start-Up Nation are one of two teams heavily linked (opens in new tab) to the Belgian rider. The Israeli team are building a very strong squad around Chris Froome for 2021, and have also just lost their main Classics man, Nils Politt, to Bora-Hansgrohe next season.
The other team looking like they are already setting up for the arrival of Van Avermaet is AG2R La Mondiale, who have signed Gijs Van Hoecke and Stan De Wulf to add to their already strong Classics team. Their current Classics leader Oliver Naesen is a good friend of Van Avermaet and would bring great options for them in the cobbled Classics
AG2R have also announced their new title sponsor of French car manufacturer, Citrôen, making them AG2R Citroen for the 2021 season.
Van Avermaet will be focusing on his racing for now, and will next be in action at Milan-San Remo this weekend (August 8), where he'll lead CCC Team along with Matteo Trentin.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi, I'm one of Cycling Weekly's content writers for the web team responsible for writing stories on racing, tech, updating evergreen pages as well as the weekly email newsletter. Proud Yorkshireman from the UK's answer to Flanders, Calderdale, go check out the cobbled climbs!
I started watching cycling back in 2010, before all the hype around London 2012 and Bradley Wiggins at the Tour de France. In fact, it was Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck's battle in the fog up the Tourmalet on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
It took me a few more years to get into the journalism side of things, but I had a good idea I wanted to get into cycling journalism by the end of year nine at school and started doing voluntary work soon after. This got me a chance to go to the London Six Days, Tour de Yorkshire and the Tour of Britain to name a few before eventually joining Eurosport's online team while I was at uni, where I studied journalism. Eurosport gave me the opportunity to work at the world championships in Harrogate back in the awful weather.
After various bar jobs, I managed to get my way into Cycling Weekly in late February of 2020 where I mostly write about racing and everything around that as it's what I specialise in but don't be surprised to see my name on other news stories.
When not writing stories for the site, I don't really switch off my cycling side as I watch every race that is televised as well as being a rider myself and a regular user of the game Pro Cycling Manager. Maybe too regular.
My bike is a well used Specialized Tarmac SL4 when out on my local roads back in West Yorkshire as well as in northern Hampshire with the hills and mountains being my preferred terrain.
-
-
Enve launches G series dropper post with a neat new lever
Enve opts for an inverted design for its first foray into the world of droppers
By Stefan Abram • Published
-
Notio Aerometer review - a portable wind tunnel
For time triallists serious about aero optimisation, the Notio is a good investment - but to get the most out of it you need time as well as money
By Tom Epton • Published
-
How the team with the smallest budget in the WorldTour is overtaking the competition: The rise of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert
The Belgian team has been punching above their weight all season
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Biniam Girmay's stage 11 start in question after podium mishap
Eritrean stage-winner injured his eye with a cork during podium celebrations
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Unbelievable': Biniam Girmay seizes opportunity in watershed moment for cycling
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert rider becomes first Eritrean Grand Tour stage winner
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Racing every race like it's the last of the season: how smaller teams are overperforming this year
Lotto-Soudal and Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux have won 11 races between them in 2022 after just 21 in all of last year, so what's going on?
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Greg Van Avermaet looking for redemption at Paris-Roubaix after omission from Belgian Worlds squad
The Belgian has represented his national team at the World Championships every year since 2007
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
'In my own country, I'm not part of the team': Philippe Gilbert and Greg Van Avermaet not selected for home World Championships
There were a few surprise names left off the list for the Flanders 2021 Worlds
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Greg Van Avermaet said he ‘hoped to be better’ but content with podium finish in Tour of Flanders
Greg Van Avermaet said he’d hoped to be “just a little better” in the Tour of Flanders, but settled for a podium finish.
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Greg Van Avermaet reveals new bike for 2021 as Olympic champion returns to BMC machines
Greg Van Avermaet has revealed his new machine for the 2021, as he returns to BMC machine.
By Alex Ballinger • Published