Greg Van Avermaet and Michaël Schär sign for AG2R Citrôen
Belgian classics specialist Greg Van Avermaet and Michaël Schär from Switzerland have both announced their departure from CCC and signed three year contracts with AG2R LA MONDIALE team from 2021, which will become AG2R Citrôen.
Van Avermaet, 35 years old, is the reigning road race gold medallist (Rio 2016) and leaves CCC after 10 years with the team.
The Belgian who has won the Paris-Roubaix, Gent–Wevelgem and E3 Harelbeke, will still be targeting victories in both the classics and Grand Tour stages with his new team.
“I am happy and motivated to start a new adventure. I have just spent 10 beautiful years in the structures of Jim Ochowicz and I am embarking on a new challenge,” Van Avermaet said.
The announcement of the signings came shortly after it was announced Ag2r’s Grand Tour star Romain Bardet would move to Team Sunweb for 2021.
With the threat of CCC Team folding next season, van Avermaet said that he had no choice but to look for other teams.
“I’ve given my manager the green light to look at other teams. I have no options in this team anymore.” he told Sporza last week.
Ag2r’s signing of Van Avermaet and Schär bolsters their Classics team, currently led by Oliver Naesen.
Van Avermaet said, “I have just spent ten beautiful years in the structures of Jim Ochowicz and I am embarking on a new challenge. I am happy that Vincent Lavenu [Ag2r team manager] has shown such confidence in me, and I intend to give my best in order to achieve great results. The prospect of working with Oliver Naesen, with the goal of winning Classics, is particularly exciting.
“My goal is always the same: to win races like the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, stages of the Tour de France or wear the yellow jersey for as long as possible.”
Team manager Vincent Lavenu said: “Greg is a great champion, showing incredible consistency at the highest level. His experience, his rigor, his hard work will be important in our development project.
“He will be an example for all our young riders. His bond with his friend Oliver Naesen, with whom he sometimes trains with, will be an added advantage.”
“Michaël is one of the best teammates in the world. He will be invaluable in protecting our leaders, whether in stage races or in the classics. He is also a very good time trialist. He will be a pilot fish whose experience will contribute a great deal.”
Schar added: “I’m very excited to begin writing a new chapter in my career. I was won over by the sports project presented by Vincent Lavenu, who is a true cycling enthusiast.”
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