surgeonstone

While out riding today I was suffering through some knee pain and it started me thinking just how much suffering is involved in professional cycling and whether or not the pro's start to hate cycling enough that when done racing, they never get back on a bike.
So the question is- what percentage of pro cyclists leave the sport never to ride again. 20%? 50%?

KiuBWhy

I can't imagine that any pro would never get back on a bike, regardless of pain and suffering or not.

If that was the case, they would not have likely ever made it to the pro level.

carpediemracing 

I bet it's lower than that, but the ones that never get on a bike will never, ever get on a bike again. I know one guy who absolutely hated the bike. He was a lower level domestic pro and said he'd never ride again after he stopped making money racing. I don't know if he followed through with his declaration but he's one of only two or three pros I know who actually verbalized that and seemed pretty decided on the topic.

There aren't that many pros and if you look in the bike industry, there are a lot of pros sprinkled around the various companies and bike shops. Look at the teams and you'll find the same thing, lots of ex-pros doing race stuff. They may not ride at the level where they rode before, but they're still on the bike at some level.

brettlynch11

Different sport but Andre Agassi was in so much pain his last couple years that he didn't want to play some of his matches at all.

I remember reading that during his last tournament his wife had to persuade him to even get out of bed, let alone go play a match.

Even after all that, he still plays. He was on TV not that long ago playing a exhibition with some other retired pros.

Creatre

Pros wouldn't be pros if they didn't enjoy what they did. You just can't get to that level hating what you do. I bet 95 percent of cyclist pros will still ride after retirement.

max power

i'm gonna guess that Mr. Riccardo Ricco won't be riding a bike anytime soon

K.Katso

Apparently he still rides with friends:

“I ride my bike just for fun. I started a week ago. I go out when I want, not every day. It’s nice and is relaxing. I talk with friends and stop for a coffee,” Riccò said.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricc...ver-race-again

kabex

Anquetil, one of the top 5 cyclists of all time rode 3 times after quitting.

He said he "had enough".

Bob Ross

I have a data point of only 1, but fwiw there's a guy in our cycle club who was a professional in the early 1960s (Belgian kermesse circuit), and he's still very happily riding his bike every weekend. Mostly teaching beginners and leading C rides. Nice guy & a great resource for the club.

Mose

Pretty sure Bob Roll still rides...

chado445510

Yeah, I agree completely. Even if they're not training, they should still enjoy rolling around on two wheels.

chackern2

Just a quick glance at the start list this weekend for the Redlands Classic, reveals the names of "retired" pros, Alexi Grewal, Raul Alcala and Steve Tilford. At the San Dimas Stage Race last weekend, Thurlow Rogers was racing in the Vets 45+.

mpath

Cycling is the new golf. Between the two sports is where retired pro athletes will end up.

carpediemracing 

I just spoke to an ex-pro, asked him specifically about what this thread asked. He said that he'd cut back a lot, 10 bikes to 2. He is totally into bass fishing now so he pursues that with the enthusiasm he raced as a pro (mtb, 10? years).

He likes that he can ride any day now, instead of focusing on race days and the prep necessary for them. So if his buddies back then asked if he'd join them on a century on a Saturday, he'd say, no, sorry, gotta race Sunday. Now he can do whatever, whenever. It's fun for him now, not a job. Just like if I wanted to build a wheel for myself, that's fun. Psimet building a wheel, he's working.

He pointed out that injuries may keep someone from riding. Cindy Olavarri, although not a pro (she was on the 84 Olympic team) had taken so much steroids (she gives talks on the dangers of doping apparently) that she uses a cane to walk. She can only swim now. I don't know of any others like that.

531phile 

Reminds me of a friend who worked in a restaurant as a cook. Says the worse thing about working with food is that if you hate your job you end up hating food. Sounds like Anquetil hated his job.

jeffpoulin

I don't know about not riding anymore, but a lot of pros get pretty big after retirement. Merckx, Fignon, Virenque, Ullrich, etc... For these guys who put on so much weight, riding must not feel the same anymore. Plus you have to deal with local hot shots who brag about "beating" you on a club ride.

jsutkeepspining

People who can beat the ex pros arnt stupid enough to brag about it.

surgeonstone

He does. What about Lemond?
Laurent Fignon, I believe, quit riding altogether after quitting.

wfrogge

Its hard to go from being one of the best in the world to just doing it as a hobby.

surgeonstone

Thats what I would think. Going from an absolutely stud powerhouse to an overweight, lycra clad schmo would be so difficult. Might prevent one from getting on the road again.

BillyD

Im still riding.

kabex

Yeah, it took Eddy like 20 years to get back to recreational riding. I'd say it's hard to do after being a pro.