Vansummeren was born, raised, and resides in Lommel, Flanders, Belgium.[1] After two seasons in the amateur ranks, Vansummeren turned professional with Relax–Bodysol in 2004.[1]
Although Vansummeren's role was primarily that of a domestique, he competed as a team leader during the classic season.[3][4] In 2011, Vansummeren won the biggest race of his career, Paris–Roubaix.[5][6] Vansummeren won the race after escaping from three other riders with 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) remaining, winning by nineteen seconds at the velodrome in Roubaix.[7][8] He was victorious, despite riding the final 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) with a flat tire.[7][9] Vansummeren also won the 2007 Tour de Pologne and rode the Tour de France nine times.[10]
Vansummeren signed with AG2R La Mondiale for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.[11] In June 2016, he announced his retirement from the sport after being diagnosed with a heart problem that had been detected in February at the Tour of Oman and resulted in him missing the classics season.[10]
