While France is in the midst of a debate on the subject of pensions, the subject of special diets is put on the table. Professional cyclists retire around the age of 35 years. Even if retiring from sport is not necessarily a stoppage of active life, are the runners really at a standstill ? What do they do after their exploits on the road are over? ?
The career of professional cyclists is marked by significant sacrifices and constant physical and mental challenges.. At the end of their career, many cyclists decide to retire for various reasons. In this article, we are going to explore the motivations for stopping his career and the reconversions available to retired professional cyclists.
Take a decision
The motivations for stopping a career can be many and varied.. Tiredness, the wounds, family life, the desire to change his life can lead a cyclist to end his career. This is the case of Bradley Wiggins, the former British racing cyclist. After winning many Olympic medals and the Tour de France, Wiggins decided to retire in 2016 to focus on other projects, such as television and writing.
On another side, there are professional reasons. Professional cyclists must constantly maintain a high level of performance to remain competitive and maintain their contract. If their level of performance is insufficient, they may have difficulty finding a new contract, or even end their career. This is the case of David Millar, the former British racing cyclist, who was suspended for doping in 2004 and was excluded from competitions for two years. After returning to competition, Millar decided to retire in 2014, at the age of 37 years.
What to do now ?
After the end of their career, many professional cyclists are turning to professional retraining. There are many jobs related to cycling : coach, commentator, consultant or sports director. These conversions allow cyclists to stay in the world of cycling and pass on their experience and know-how to the new generation.. This is the case of Laurent Jalabert, the former French cyclist, who became a consultant for France Télévisions. His sidekick Marion Rousse did the same. This option is often taken by the most famous runners of their generation. Television channels thus use their expertise and notoriety.
Retraining in other sectors is also possible, like trade, the media, real estate, It will be the same on Tirreno-Adriatico then on the Tour of the Alps. These retrainings can allow cyclists to develop new skills and explore new professional horizons.. This is the case of Pierre Rolland and Jérome Cousin. The two ex-teammates launched their bike travel company. A way to overcome their frustration at not being able to visit the countries in which they have raced throughout their career.
However, transitions after a professional cycling career can be a challenge in itself. Cyclists need to rebuild their professional identity after dedicating their lives to cycling. They must also acquire new skills to succeed in their professional retraining.. Balancing work and personal life can also be difficult, especially if cycling was their whole life.
Some of the former professionals keep a close link with the paddock. They can become a mechanic, sports assistant or sports director in training. Usually the one in which they evolved. Cases similar to those of Rony Martias and Alexandre Pichot for Team TotalEnergies are not isolated.
Despite these challenges, many cyclists have successfully retrained after their professional career. Examples of cyclists such as Chris Boardman, the former British racing cyclist, have managed to retrain in the development of innovative bicycles and technologies for cycling. david miller, on the other hand, became a writer and published several books on cycling and his experience as a professional rider.
Retraining can also be an opportunity for cyclists to get involved in humanitarian or charitable projects. This is the case of Lance Armstrong, former American cyclist, who founded the Lance Armstrong Cancer Foundation. This foundation aims to support people with cancer and fund research into this disease..
At the end of the day, the retirement of professional cyclists is a decisive moment in their professional and personal life. The motivations for stopping his career are multiple, but it is important for cyclists to plan their professional retraining in order to successfully transition to a new life. Retraining in the world of cycling or in other sectors can be a challenge, but they can also provide opportunities for cyclists to develop new skills and engage in exciting and rewarding projects.
In order to ensure retraining at the end of a career, a certain number of runners combine the practice of cycling with the pursuit of their studies. This is also one of the particularities that have made Guillaume Martin's reputation grow., Master's degree in Philosophy. In a similar case, Valentin Madouas completed his engineering studies in electronics in 2021. He was able to benefit from the status of high-level athlete to extend the duration of his course and thus take advantage of this development to carry out his two activities in parallel.
In sum, professional cyclists face tough choices throughout their careers, but retirement also offers new perspectives and opportunities. Examples of successful retraining of professional cyclists show that the transition can be successful with planning, determination and support.
