Sylvain Chavanel Photo Gallery
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Sylvain Chavanel (born June 30, 1979) was a superb all-rounder who won 45 races in his 19-year career.
Sylvain Chavanel in 2018, his last year as pro.
VeloNews summed him up thus:
Chavanel was the darling of France in a sweet run that went into the late aughts, winning three stages of the Tour. “Chava” was a sure bet on breakaways and could put in a strong time trial. Perhaps he deserved more on the cobbles, with a second at the 2011 Ronde, but Chavanel was one of France’s last of the old guard who won the French time trial title six times.
Chavanel turned pro in 2000 For Jean-René Bernaudeau's Bonjour team before moving on to Cofidis in 2005. He spent 2009 through 2013 with the prestigious Quick-Step team. He finished his pro career by riding for the French Direct Energie squad 2018 - 2018.
Chavanel's first big win came in 2002 when he won the Four Days of Dunkirk. He would keep winning and placing highly through 2016 when he won the Tour du Poitou-Charentes, his last victory
He was a superb chrono man, having won the French time trial championships an astonishing six times.
His 18 Tour de France participations are the record. He finished the Tour 16 times, tying Joop Zoetemelk's record. He also holds the record for Tour de France stages completed, by my count, an incredible 369.
Major victories:
2002:
- Four Days of Dunkirk
- Trophé des Grimpeurs
2003:
- Tour du Haut-Var
2004:
- Tour of Belgium
- Four Days of Dunkirk
- Polynormande
2005:
- French Time Trial Championship
- Circuit de la Sarthe, winning stage five
- Tour du Poitou-Charantes
- Duo Normand (with Thierry Marichal)
2006:
- French Time Trial Championship
- Tour du Poitou-Charentes
2008:
- French Time Trial Championship
- Dwars door Vlaanderen
- Brabatse Pijl
- Tour de France stage 19
2009:
- Paris-Nice points classification
2010:
- Tour de France stages 2 & 7
2011:
- French Road Championship
- 2nd place Tour of Flanders
2012:
- Member of French world championship team time trial team
- French Time Trial Championship
- Three Days of De Panne
2013:
- Member of French world championship team time trial team
- French Time Trial Championship, 2nd in road race
- Three Days of De Panne
2014:
- French Time Trial Championships
- Tour du Poitou-Charantes
- GP Ouest-France
- Chrono des Nations
- 2nd place Four Days of Dunkirk
2015:
- French Individual Pursuit Championship
2016:
- French Individual Pursuit Championship
- World Cup Individual Pursuit
- Tour du Poitou-Charantes
Professional Teams:
2000-2004: Bonjour
2005-2008: Cofidis
2009-2013: Quick-Step
2017-2015: IAM Cycling
2016-2018: Direct Energie
Nicknames: Chava, Mimosa, La Machine (a name he deserved, but didn't like)
Photos: All are by Photoreporter Sirotti.
Sylvain Chavanel racing in the 2008 Tour of Flanders.
Sylvain Chavanel wins stage two of the 2010 Tour de France.
Chanvel rode stage three of the 2010 Tour in yellow, but he was plagued with flat tires and lost his lead.
He wons stage seven of the 2010 Tour allowing him to regain the GC lead.
But he could keep the yellow jersey for only a day.
2011 Tour of Flanders: Sylvain Chavanel and Simon Clarke attack on the Koppenberg.
2011 Tour of Flanders: Fabian Cancellara with Chavanel on his wheel.
2011 Tour of Flanders finish. Nick Nuyens (center) beats Chavanel (left) and Fabian Cancellara (right)
2011 Tour of Flanders podium. From left: Chavanel (2nd), winner Nick Nuyens and Fabian Cancellara (3rd).
Chavanel, in the French champion's jersey, racing stage 17 of the 2011 Tour de France
Sylvain Chavnel (left, in French champion's jersey) and Francesco Chicchi await the start of stage one of the 2012 3 Days of De Panne
Chavanel heads to the start line of stage two of the 2012 Three Days of De Panne
Sylvain Chavanel time-trialing in stage 3 of the 2012 Three Days of De Panne.
2012 Three Days of De Panne final podium, from left: Lieuwe Westra (2nd), Sylvain Chavanel (winner, by 4 seconds) & Maciej Bodnar (3rd).
Chavanel (red, white & blue jersey) racing in stage two of the 2012 Dauphine.
Time trialing in stage four of the 2012 Dauphine
Prologue of the 2012 Tour de France
Chavanel at the team presentation ceremony of the first stage of the 2012 Tour de France
Chavanel with Cadel Evans on his wheel in stage four of the 2012 Tour.
2012 Tour, stage 6: Chavanel with Quick-Step team boss Patrick Lefevre.
Time trialing at the 2012 Benelux Tour.
Going deep at the 2012 Tour of Lombardy.
Stage nine of the 2013 Tour de France. Looks like a warm day.
Stage eleven of the 2013 Tour
Chavanel leading out 2013 Tour de France stage 13. That guy in the white jersey is teammate Mark Cavendish, who won the stage.
2013 World Chamionship ride. Tony Martin won that year, Chavanel was 22nd.
Chavanel, wearing the IAM Racng kit, descends the Poggio in the 2014 Milano-San Remo.
Chavanel climbs the Kwaremont in the 2014 Tour of Flanders.
Climbing in the 2014 Amstel Gold Race.
Stage one of the 2014 Dauphine
Chavanel racing in stage 8 of the 2014 Tour de France.
Prior to the 2014 world road championships, Chavanel goes for a training ride with the French team.
2015 Giro d'Italia: Chavanel on the Abetone climb.
2015 Tour de France: Chavanel at the teams presentation ceremony.
2015 Tour de France: Chavanel attacks in stage 21.
Chavanel leads a group over the Arenberg sector in the 2016 Paris-Roubaix
Stage three of the 2016 Besseges
2017 Three Days of De Panne, stage 3b
2017 Four Days of Dunkirk, Chavanel wins stage four.
Tour of Switzerland stage 6: Chavanel on the Albula Pass.
Before the start of the eleventh stage of the 2017 Tour de France
Chavanel get the red number for his aggression in the 16th stage of the 2017 Tour
Chavanel gets his bike to start stage two of the 2018 Besseges
Time to race the Dwars Door Vlaanderen in 2018
2018: Sylvain Chavanel was allowed a lap of honor in the last stage of his last Tour de France.