Professional cycling has lost one of its most competitive and charismatic riders in recent years. Thomas De Gendtafter 16 years in the peloton, has decided to end his sports career. The Belgian runner, 37, announced his farewell through his social networks. “And thus ends 16 years of racing. Everything I worked for since I was 10 years old is just a memory. Paris-Chauny was my last race as a professional. But as always, The end of an era is the beginning of something new. Looking forward to discovering new challenges”he pointed to x.
De Gendt, a regular in Grand Tour breakaways, and a specialist in stage hunting, retired with five victories in the big three and five victories in the Volta Catalunyahis fetish test. In his last year in the peloton he could not find sixth in the Catalan lands or second in the Vuelta a España, goals he had set in his farewell year. Two wins in the Giro and two more in the Tour make up his record, which also highlights his victories in Paris-Nice, the Criterium Dauphiné, the Tour of Switzerland, Romandie and Wallonia, as well as the mountain jersey in La Vuelta (2018). ) and third place overall in the Giro (2012), thanks to a spectacular solo breakaway to win the Stelvio that many consider his best day on the bike.
De Gendt began his career with Topsport Vlaanderen in 2009, but began making his name at Vacansoleil between 2011 and 2013. He then spent a season with Omega Pharma Quick-Step before beginning his time at Lotto Soudal / Lotto Dstnywhere he ran a total of nine seasons.
The last Vuelta a España was his 25th major event, and on the penultimate day he reached his 500th stage in three major events, a milestone that earned him an award from the organization. “They have been three very difficult weeks. I came in my best form in the last two years, but the level was so high that it only served me to be in the peloton or the first chasing group. This Vuelta allowed me to realize that it is increasingly difficult for me to stand and it doesn’t get better in days. “I’m looking forward to the end and it will be a good time to stop my career definitively,” he said at the finish line in Madrid.
De Gendt received several exploratory offers to try his luck the world of gravelalthough he has not yet decided whether he will approach this new discipline as a hobby or try to stand up and write an epilogue to his professional career, after fulfilling his childhood dream for 16 memorable years in road
Source: La Verdad
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