Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Friday October 18, 2024 at 1:03 p.m.
At 31, French Intermarché-Wanty rider Lilian Calmejane announced this Friday that he was retiring. He notably won a stage of the Tour de France and a stage of the Vuelta.
On August 23, 2016, at the age of 23, he scored the first professional victory of his career, during the 4th stage of the Vuelta under the Direct Energie jersey. For his very first Grand Tour, Lilian Calmejane had struck a big blow, and a great career was perhaps opening up to him. It ended up being a little smaller than expected, and it will end in the coming days. Rider of Intermarché-Wanty for two seasons (after five seasons at Direct Energie and two at AG2R-Citroën), the 31-year-old Albigensian, currently present on the Tour of Guangxi in China (he is 29th with two stages to go ), announced via a long message posted on social networks that he was retiring, after nine professional seasons and twelve victories.
Calmejane: “I no longer find my place in the World Tour peloton”
“After a decade in the pros, it is time, for the competitor at heart that I am, to turn to new sporting challenges which I will discuss later. To be honest, frank and transparent (which gave me both lacking and allowing me to have my best encounters), I no longer find my place in the World Tour peloton Certainly, cycling has changed radically in a few years but I want to say that this is my vision. of high-level cycling which has changed. I have always seen this job as a unique opportunity in which I can combine pleasure and professionalism. For several years, I have felt cramped and less fulfilled. My results or rather my performances no longer satisfy me. I have seized my opportunity many times and in high-level sport what motivates me and transcends me the most is being at a high level by winning races. As a kid, I never imagined for a second becoming a professional cyclist, let alone winning stages on the grand tours, particularly the Tour de France. My dreams were achieved very early in my career and that certainly served me in terms of motivation to have a better track record.” Demotivated, the man who won the 8th stage of the 2017 Tour de France in Les Rousses therefore left the peloton. “I am happy and relieved to close this chapter and look forward to starting another. My appetite is gargantuan and I intend to pursue my dreams, accompanied by my loved ones and the people I love,” concludes the father of little Lou, aged 2.
