Ignatas Konovalovas is leaving the peloton for good. Groupama-FDJ, its team from 2016 to 2024, formalized the retirement of its 38-year-old rider on Thursday November 28. The Lithuanian, a great specialist in solo efforts (seven times national time trial champion), won the greatest victory of his career at the Giro in 2009, winner of the final time on the 21e stage under the colors of Cervélo TestTeam.
17 years in the pros
“If my career were a glass, I would feel like I had filled it completely. I'm sure I did 100% of what I could dosaid Konovalovas, quoted in a press release from the French team. I spent 17 years among the pros, including 9 in the Groupama-FDJ cycling team. I think it's really not bad. After everything I have experienced, all the knowledge I have made along the way, I am proud and happy to end my career. The choice was already made last winter anyway. »
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For his post-career, the Lithuanian has “tracks” and hopes to stay in the cycling world. “I'm still thinking about the possibility of becoming a rider's agenthe emphasizes. I think this is an area where I could bring something, especially for riders coming from Lithuania and the Baltic countries in general, so that they have someone to support them and help them go pro and make a living from it. bike. »
France
