Petr Vakoč retires from cycling at the age of 29 after successful injury comeback
The former Czech road race champion never made it back to his peak form after being hit by lorry in South Africa in 2018
Former Czech road race champion Petr Vakoč has decided to retire from professional cycling at the age of 29 to "focus on new challenges".
The Alpecin-Fenix rider announced that he would be retiring after the Giro del Veneto on Wednesday, October 13 after 10 years in the professional ranks.
Vakoč suffered extremely serious injuries while out on a training rider in South Africa where both he and his then Quick-Step Floors team-mate Laurens De Plus were struck by a lorry on a training camp in 2018.
>>> 'I think he can do better than me': Eddy Merckx heaps praise on Tadej Pogačar
The crash left Vakoč with several broken vertebrae, meaning he needed to have spinal surgery and also had to learn to walk again. De Plus also suffered broken bones as well as a kidney contusion, though his injuries were not to the same extent as Vakoč suffered.
Vakoč posted the news to his Instagram with the caption: "On Wednesday the Giro del Veneto will be my last race as a pro as I have decided to step back from road cycling and focus on new challenges. Thank you all for making it one unforgettable journey!"
A post shared by Petr Vakoc (@petrvakoc)
A photo posted by on
In his statement in the post he said: "It has been an amazing ride. As a kid, I dreamed about becoming a professional rider and I am immensely grateful to have lived this dream. I have been incredibly lucky to be around truly amazing people and I can say that I have created friendships for life. I have been able to not only ride my bike for a living but also to be a member of two of the most successful teams in the sport. I have experienced both, winning big races myself and playing my part in dozens of team victories."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Vakoč added that riding the Tour de France in 2021 was a very emotional moment for him and to be a part of riding with the yellow jersey in the team was a dream he never thought would happen. His team-mate Mathieu van der Poel took the lead of the Tour after winning stage two of the race.
After the race Vakoč said he realised that the toll of competing was starting to hit his body and even though he wanted to keep racing, he knew that it was time to stop.
"After the injuries sustained in the accident where I was hit by a truck during a training camp in South Africa in January 2018 my goal was not only to fully recover but also to race at the Tour de France again," he continued.
" I was lucky to have the chance to fully recover and then I worked with a relentless determination. Coming back to the highest level of professional cycling is what I truly consider my biggest victory of all."
Vakoč, who has won seven times in his career, looked like he was going to be a real force to be reckoned with on the Ardennes style races after he took Brabantse Pijl in 2016. Sadly, that was his final career win.
Among his other wins were a stage in the Tour of Poland in 2015, a stage in the Tour of Britain in 2015 as well as the national title, and a stage in his home race.
"One chapter is coming to an end but there are plenty of possibilities opening. I will continue riding my bike a lot and perhaps compete off-road. That is where it all started for me many years ago. I will also continue my university studies in psychology and start nutrition consultancy. Areas that I have a huge passion for and which have been incredibly helpful during my career."
Vakoč finished by thanking everyone involved in his recovery and who made his career a reality. His friends, family and the medical staff who he says saved his life and helped in his rehabilitation in South Africa.
As well as thanking all his teams including Alpecin-Fenix and his former squad, Deceuninck - Quick-Step as well as all the fans who have cheered him on his "unforgettable journey".
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
Hi, I'm one of Cycling Weekly's content writers for the web team responsible for writing stories on racing, tech, updating evergreen pages as well as the weekly email newsletter. Proud Yorkshireman from the UK's answer to Flanders, Calderdale, go check out the cobbled climbs!
I started watching cycling back in 2010, before all the hype around London 2012 and Bradley Wiggins at the Tour de France. In fact, it was Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck's battle in the fog up the Tourmalet on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
It took me a few more years to get into the journalism side of things, but I had a good idea I wanted to get into cycling journalism by the end of year nine at school and started doing voluntary work soon after. This got me a chance to go to the London Six Days, Tour de Yorkshire and the Tour of Britain to name a few before eventually joining Eurosport's online team while I was at uni, where I studied journalism. Eurosport gave me the opportunity to work at the world championships in Harrogate back in the awful weather.
After various bar jobs, I managed to get my way into Cycling Weekly in late February of 2020 where I mostly write about racing and everything around that as it's what I specialise in but don't be surprised to see my name on other news stories.
When not writing stories for the site, I don't really switch off my cycling side as I watch every race that is televised as well as being a rider myself and a regular user of the game Pro Cycling Manager. Maybe too regular.
My bike is a well used Specialized Tarmac SL4 when out on my local roads back in West Yorkshire as well as in northern Hampshire with the hills and mountains being my preferred terrain.