Greg Van Avermaet wins gravel triathlon in Spain

Two weeks into retirement, the former Olympic champion is already winning again

12:46, Monday 23rd October 2023

Matilda Price

Racing News Editor

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Greg Van Avermaet called time on his 18-year road career earlier this month

He may have ridden his final road race in Paris-Tours two weeks ago, but Greg Van Avermaet doesn’t seem to be giving up racing just yet, and won a gravel triathlon in Spain over the weekend.

The SGRAIL100, which takes place in and around Girona, saw competitors take on 1,500m of swimming, an 88km gravel ride, followed by a 10.5km trail run to make up a total 100km race distance.

Despite the event being Van Avermaet’s first triathlon - of any kind, gravel or otherwise - the 38-year-old won the race. It came down to a sprint between the Belgian and his compatriot and veteran triathlete Jim Thijs, with the former AG2R Citroën rider just winning on the line.

“My first triathlon in the books,” Van Avermaet wrote in an Instagram post about the race. “A bit out of the comfort zone but a lot of fun.”

View post on Instagram

He also went on to thank Jan Frodeno for the “warm welcome” - Frodeno is a three-time triathlon world champion and one of the people behind the event. SGRAIL100 also supports his non-profit organisation, the Frodeno Fun(d).

Van Avermaet wasn’t the only former pro cyclist to complete the event, with road-turned-gravel racer Petr Vakoč also racing, and finishing 16th.

Like many gravel-based events, it’s clear that the SGRAIL100 is an event more based around good vibes and fun rather than the purely competitive element, but that doesn’t mean that Van Avermaet’s results aren’t impressive.

Completing his final race in Paris-Tours last week, the Belgian went out with a bang, on the attack and within the action for much of the day, proving that his spark is still there, which this weekend’s news confirms.

It’s unclear whether this may be the start of an off-road or triathlon post-WorldTour career for Van Avermaet, with the 38-year-old so far not giving many clues about his retirement plans. No sports director move is yet on the cards, but it seems the Belgian still has the itch for racing - and indeed the strength for winning.