Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Wanty) announced that he was ending his career as a professional cyclist this Friday in an Instagram post. The rider, aged 31, will have left his mark on French Cycling with two victories in the Grand Tour, including the 8th stage of the Tour de France 2017. After starting his career at Vendée-Uhe had joined Direct Energy, where he achieved his greatest successes. He then spent two years withinAG2R Citroen Team, before ending his career in the Belgian team, Intermarché-Wanty. In total, Lilian Calmejane scored 12 professional successes.
Video – Lilan Calmejane wore the Blue Jersey for the 2024 Giro
“I no longer find my place in the peloton”
The Frenchman explained the reasons for this choice on social networks. “In life, there are chapters that are more or less exciting. The one I started writing when I arrived in Vendée U at the end of 2013 intoxicated me from the first lines. The end, because yes, every chapter closes, is more bland but not without flavor. 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. he first wrote.
“To be honest, frank and transparent, 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 it is my vision of high-level cycling that 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. 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.” then explains Lilian Calmejane.
