Greg Van Avermaet made time for his fans today. There was a tour for sympathizers and supporters, there was a football match with the former goalkeeper on the field and of course there was a ceremony where he hung up his bicycle.
The folk festival was over around 7 p.m. “I had fun,” he said in Sportweekend. “It was a perfect day. It was busy and I was a bit overwhelmed. It got under my skin, but it was a lot of fun.”
“That football tournament was something playful, but fun. It had been a while since I had played football. I enjoyed it.”
And the bicycle was then symbolically hung on the hook. “But I can still keep driving it, right,” the Olympic champion laughed.
“During my 20-year career, I have made a boyhood dream come true. I have always done it with pleasure. I had fun, I achieved great results and you can look back with satisfaction on a successful career.”
“I am proud of what I have achieved,” Van Avermaet concluded. “I made a difference and I never dreamed of that. I may not have always won, but I wouldn’t trade places with anyone. My career reflects who I am.”
What’s next? “That is the question,” Van Avermaet returned the ball. “I will take time for my family. They were in second place for a long time and that is necessary to reach the top. Now I think of them.”
“I will continue to actively participate in sports, but at amateur level. That I will be cycling on Monday? That was a joke, I think. I only ran and swam this week. I have ridden so many kilometers that I am also looking forward to something else .”
2023-10-15 17:49:00
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