This article will be updated as soon as we know more about the topic.
Last year, Henrique Avancini had become quieter in Europe. Which is not to say that the 33-year-old has taken it easy. Avancini won six titles in South America in 2022. And now the big news that he will Cannondale Factory Racing Team is leaving at his own request.
"I am very happy about the history that I and Cannondale have built together. It has been a very successful journey that has allowed me to put the sport I love in the spotlight in my country and build a solid career at the highest international level. The decision to leave CFR was not an easy one, but I am leaving with a lot of lessons learnt, friends, successes and many memories that I can carry in my heart with pride. I feel that I have given my all to this project and it is time to find new goals and take on new challenges. But I'm sure I won't forget everything that Cannondale and CFR have given me." - Henrique Avancini
A statement from Jonathan Geran, Director of Sports Marketing at Cannondale, has also already been received, in which he confirms Avancini's wish to leave:
"We welcomed Henrique to Cannondale as a rider from his first ride at team camp eight years ago and now we have the honour of celebrating Henrique as one of the best riders in the world and an ambassador for Brazilian mountain biking as we pay tribute to him and the transformation in his pursuit as an elite athlete. We will always cherish our time as teammates and wish Henrique all the best in achieving his goals." - Jonathan Geran, Director Sportsmarketing Cannondale
Where will Henrique Avancini's journey take him now?
At this point, you will find external content that complements the article. You can display and hide it with a click.
Meanwhile, Avancini is apparently using the break in the season to clear his head - as the MTB athlete writes on Instagram.
"During the season break, I take the opportunity to take part in events, create projects, see and hear new things. Spending a few days without the normal worries of athlete life always brings renewal and balance. I've learnt a lot in the last few days, especially, summer BootCamp @oakleybr celebration of @vorrbrasil And incredible moments at the F-1 with @redbullbr"
(Translated from Brazilian)
One could now speculate that he might want to get more involved in his native Brazil, as Avancini has recently won MTB titles in South America. He could, for example MTB Team Caloiwhich he himself helped build up from 2011 to 2015, as a rider. Based purely on his age, it is unlikely that he will end his career - other top MTB athletes, such as Nino Schurter (36) and David Valero Serrano (34), are of a similar age or even older than Avancini.
Avancini will only win in South America in 2022
The sporting focus on the South American continent becomes clear when you look at the 2022 title parade:
- 2 . 2nd place Pan American Championships - XCC
- Pan-American Champion - XCO
- Winner Taça Brasil, first stop in Lavras/Minas Gerais
- Brazilian champion - XCC
- Brazilian champion - XCO
- Winner Brasil Ride Bahia - Stage Class 1
In contrast, he was always among the front runners in the MTB World Cup and/or World Championships in previous years. In 2021, for example, he won the XCC medal at the World Championships in Val di Sole: Christopher Blevins (USA) won gold, Henrique Avancini took silver and Maximilian Brandl (Germany) bronze.
And just one week after the World Championships, they travelled to Lenzerheide for the UCI MTB World Cup. Jenny Rissveds and Henrique Avancini secured the short track victories at the start there. The vice world champion from Brazil was the only one who was able to keep up with Mathias Flückiger's attack and even outpaced him on the last lap.
What characterises Henrique Avancini as an MTB athlete is that he is successful in almost all disciplines of cross-country racing. At the end of the 2020 season, he was ranked number 1 in the world cross-country rankings. Avancini had previously won the world title in the MTB marathon in 2018.
Funfact: The Brazilian biker has also been the annual champion in his own country in the XCC and XCO disciplines since 2018. And Avancini is the first Brazilian mountain biker to win the national championship in all categories, from juniors to elite.
Marc Strucken
Editor
