Sylvain Chavanel

Sylvain Chavanel (Châtellerault, Vienne, June 30, 1979) is a French cyclist who was a professional from 2000 to 2018. His younger brother Sébastien Chavanel was also a professional cyclist.

As a result of his characteristics as a wheeler, he has won the French Time Trial Championship 6 times, being the one who has achieved it the most times. In addition, he stood out for being a cyclist who looked for breakaways, which has led him to win stages and one-day events.

The test that has brought him the most success has been the Tour de France. He is the cyclist who has participated in the test the most times with a record of 18 different editions. He too, he has managed to win 3 stages, has worn the yellow jersey for 2 days and was awarded as the most combative in 2 editions.

Biography

He began his professional career in 2000 with Jean-René Bernaudeau of the Bonjour team, which later became Brioches la Boulangere in 2003. He later moved to Cofidis in 2005. From 2009 to 2013 he raced with the Belgian Quick Step team, where he was reunited with his former teammate Jérôme Pineau.

In 2004 he participated in the Athens Olympic Games, although he was unable to complete the road race.

On July 25, 2008, he won the 19th stage of the Tour de France in Montluçon, outsprinting fellow breakaway Jérémy Roy. He was chosen the most combative rider of that Tour de France.

During the 2008 season, he won Across Flanders and Flecha Brabanzona. He also won stages in the Tour of the Mediterranean and Paris-Nice. In May of that same year he won a stage in the Volta a Catalunya in which he was in the break all day with two minutes and 32 seconds ahead of, among others, Thor Hushovd and Bernhard Eisel.

He became French champion for the third time at the end of June 2008 in the time trial.

In 2009 he did not achieve important victories except for a victory in Paris-Nice, finishing 3rd overall and wearing the leader's jersey for 3 stages.

In 2010 he made his best Tour de France as far as results are concerned, as he managed to prevail in 2 stages and win the general combativeness award for the second time in his career. In addition, he was the leader of the test during 2 stages, after the 2nd and 7th stages.

In 2011 he won the French Road Championship and in the Vuelta a España he wore the leader's red jersey for four days. In 2012 he was French time trial champion and team time trial world champion as part of the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team.

In 2014, and after five seasons in the discipline of the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team, he signed for the newly created Swiss cycling team IAM Cycling, in the Continental Professional category with which he won the French Time Trial Championship for another year. In addition, the following year, the team would become a UCI WorldTour category.

In 2015, at the age of 36, he completed the three Grand Tours for the first time, after making his debut in the Giro d'Italia. The following season, he signed again for the Bernaudeau team, this time called Direct Énergie, with which he said that he wanted to end his career.

In the 2018 Tour de France he became the cyclist who has participated in the Tour de France the most times with a total of 18 occasions. At the end of that same season he announced his retirement from cycling after nineteen seasons as a professional and with 39 years old. His last race was the Chrono des Nations where he declared that his intention would be to create his own professional team.At the end of the year, his presence was confirmed in the 2019 Titan Desert with the Viorcam KH7 team, together with Melchor Mauri and Abraham Olano.

Honours of Prizes

Path

Hint

2015

• French Persecution Championship

2016

• French Persecution Championship

2017

• French Madison Championship (with Thomas Boudat)
• 2.o at the French Persecution Championship
• Glasgow World Cup (United Kingdom) in Individual Persecution

2018

• 2.o at the French Championship in madison (along with Thomas Boudat)
• 3.o in the French Championship of Persecution by teams
• 2.o at the French Persecution Championship

Results in Grand Tours and World Championships

Race		2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
	Giro de Italia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	36.	-	-	-
	Tour de France	-	65.o	36.	37. or	30.o	58.o	44.	Ab.	59.o	18.	31.o	61.	Ab.	31.o	34.	54.	43.	25.	39.o
	Return to Spain	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	16.	Ab.	-	-	27.	-	-	-	47.	-	-	-
World on Route		-	Ab.	-	84.o	-	67.o	45.	67.o	53.	29.o	63.o	70.o	57.o	-	77.o	-	-	-	-
Global Contrary		-	-	-	19.	-	30.o	-	-	10.	-	19.	-	15.	22.	17.	-	-	-	-

—: does not participate
Ab.: abandonment

Teams

• Bonjour/Brioches La Boulangère (2000-2004)
  • Bonjour-Toupargel (2000)
  • Bonjour (2001-2002)
  • Brioches La Boulangère (2003-2004)
• Cofidis, le Crédit Par Téléphone (2005-2008)
• Quick Step (2009-2013)
  • Quick Step (2009-2011)
  • Omega Pharma-QuickStep (2012-2013)
• IAM Cycling (2014-2015)
• Direct Énergie (2016-2018)

Acknowledgments

• French Gold Bicycle (2008)