Sébastien Reichenbach should have said goodbye to professional cycling during the Tour of Lombardy, in front of his family and supporters. But an injury forced the 35-year-old climber from Valais to give up the start.
A minor fall during training and a broken collarbone brought forward his announced retirement by a few days. “I said to myself ‘well, that’s it, my career ends with this injury’. There was no stress“, explique Reichenbach.
Happy in his role as a team member
The Martignerain spent twelve seasons among the pros. He has competed four times in the Tour de France, four times in the Tour of Italy and once in the Tour of Spain. He was often close to the best but did not offer himself a significant victory. An assumed choice, that of being a team member rather than a leader. “I first tried to have a protected role myself“, he remembers. “I quickly realized that it was a role that required far too much charisma, far too much responsibility. I didn’t like it at all. When I was able to put myself in the role of teammate with a great leader, I was able to reach my best level and really enjoy myself.“
A model teammate, whose discreet exit from the peloton ultimately corresponds well to the character. Reichenbach will be able to heal without pressure, without worrying about the repercussions of this forced stop before the predefined line, at the end of a season during which he was able to savor every moment. All that remains for him now is to embrace a new life, without regret, without fear, but undoubtedly with a touch of nostalgia.
RTSsport
Subject: Fabienne Vallet, Frédéric Delaloye, Raynald Bussien and Christophe Cerf
