While many riders make their preparations for the start of the forthcoming season, others are focusing on the next chapter of their lives after calling time on their career.
The 2017 season saw the retirement of some of the biggest names in the peloton, including a multiple Grand Tour champions, a Monument winner and several Grand Tour stage victors. Here, Cyclingnews rounds up 10 notable retirements from this year.
Alberto Contador
After considering retirement on a couple of occasions, Alberto Contador finally pulled the plug at the end of this season. Even into the summer, Contador had left the door open to riding into 2018, but a tough day on the bike during the Tour de France sealed the deal for the Spaniard. Stage 9 into Chambery saw Contador crash twice and give away four minutes, ultimately ending his chance at victory or even a podium.
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Contador waited until the end of the race to tell his team about his decision and then set about going out with a bang. His home Grand Tour, the Vuelta a Espana would be his final hurrah. The general classification quickly seemed out of his reach but the ever-aggressive Contador rode as he had loved to do throughout his career. It finally got him a famous victory on the Alto de l'Angliru and a hero's welcome in Madrid the following day.
A few lucrative criteriums followed the Vuelta before he truly hung up his wheels. Following his retirement, Contador will keep his toe in the cycling water with his Polartec-Kometa team, which will act as a feeder team for Trek-Segafredo. He will also work on other projects surrounding stroke awareness.
Tom Boonen
Andrew Talansky
Thomas Voeckler
Tyler Farrar
Adriano Malori
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Manuel Quinziato
Greg Henderson
Christophe Riblon
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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