Hayles to retire after national hill-climb

Rob Hayles 2011

British track and road cyclist Rob Hayles is set to retire from professional cycling after competing at this weekend's national hill-climb championship.

"After nearly 27 years of racing, 19 of those full time, and 16 as a professional, I have had an amazing time. But I feel it's now time to concentrate on other very exciting things I will be doing in the future," Hayles said via his Twitter account on Thursday morning. 

Hayles took the role of rider/manager at the British-based Endura squad at the start of the 2010 season after a long career in the saddle.

The 38-year-old from Portsmouth first made his mark on the track when he won the national kilometre title in 1993. He enjoyed a long and fruitful association with the Great Britain track team, winning Olympic medals in the 2000 and 2004 Games and taking world and commonwealth titles. He helped to win the team pursuit and madison world titles in 2005, the latter partnered with Mark Cavendish.

On the road, Hayles won the British road race title in 2008 and also held the national 10- and 25-mile time trial titles. He spent three years from 2001-2003 racing on the continent for the French Cofidis squad.

He has also taken several high-profile road and criterium wins in the UK including the Beaumont Trophy and Tour of Pendle in 2008.

Hayles will bow out of his riding career at the 2011 national hill-climb championship held on Long Hill near Buxton on Sunday, October 30.

Rob Hayles: Wins and highlights

2009

Tour Series, round ten, Southend

Tour Series, round five, Blackpool

Clayton Velo Spring Classic

2008

Team pursuit - Manchester world cup (track)

Scratch race, Round two Revolution Series

British road race national championship

Beaumont trophy (Prem Cal)

Tour of Pendle (Prem Cal)

2006

Team pursuit - Commonwealth Games (track)

2005

National circuit race championships

Team pursuit - world championships (track)

Madison - world championships (track)

2004

Silver: Team pursuit - Olympics (track)

Bronze: Madison - Olympics (track)

2000

Bronze: Team pursuit - Olympics (track)

National points race champion (track)

National pursuit champion (track)

1999

National Madison champion (with Jonny Clay) (track)

National points race champion (track)

National pursuit champion (track)

1998

National Madison champion (with Jonny Clay) (track)

National points race champion (track)

National pursuit champion (track)

National 10m time trial champion

National 25m time trial champion

1997

National Madison champion (with Russell Williams) (track)

National points race champion (track)

National pursuit champion (track)

Grand Prix of Essex (Prem Cal)

March Hare (Prem Cal)

Girvan (Prem Cal)

1996

National10m time trial champion

National points race champion (track)

1995

National Madison champion (with Russell Williams) (track)

1994

National Madison champion (with Brian Steel) (track)

National kilometre champion

National 10 mile time trial champion

1993

National kilometre champion

Related links

Endura sign Dempster, Tiernan-Locke and Windsor

Rob Hayles: Rider profile

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.