Nikki Brammeier announces pregnancy and retirement from professional cycling at 32
The reigning national cyclocross champion will call time on her 15-year career
British cyclocross star Nikki Brammeier has announced her pregnancy and that she will retire from professional racing at 32.
The reigning British CX champion said she had considered taking a year out during her pregnancy, but instead has opted to leave the sport after a 15-year career.
Brammeier is a four-time national cyclocross champion, who has represented Great Britain in the Olympics and previously raced for Boels-Dolmans on the road.
>>> Rapha unveils Women’s 100 kit at Women’s Tour
Announcing her retirement, she said: “To begin with I really wanted to take a year out and challenge myself to come back to race again. However, with a lot of thinking time and reflecting on my last 15 years I decided it was time for a new chapter.
“As an elite athlete, so much of your time is spent in quite a selfish way, it’s sad but true to say its part of the job, without some selfishness you can’t make the sacrifices you need to make in the sport.
"For me, our first baby is something I want to fully enjoy and embrace. I don’t want to sacrifice that time and I know to be one of the best cyclists in the world you need to fully commit and do it with your whole heart, it’s too hard not too.”
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
After a shining palmarès on the road, track and in cyclocross and mountain biking, Brammeier rounds out her career as the British CX champion after defending her 2017 title in a tough battle with Anna Kay (Experza-Footlogix).
Her most proud achievements include representing GB in the Rio Olympic road race, her four CX national titles, a MTB national victory and four European championship podiums.
>>> Women’s Tour 2019 will be ‘most brutal yet’ says race director after adding 4,000m of climbing
She added: “Nothing lasts forever and I can be truly happy and proud of all I have achieved in this wonderful sport. Not many people get to end their career as current national champion, fit, healthy and injury free, but that’s how I get to end mine and I feel extremely lucky.
“As for what’s next, it’s scary and I have to be honest I don’t really know. I would love to stay involved in the sport somehow.
“I will be forever grateful of this wonderful cycling life. It will always be a part of me and I will continue to race and ride my bike.”
Earlier this year, 10-time British CX champion Helen Wyman also announced her retirement at 37, passing the baton to a new generation of talent.
Wyman said she felt she would not be able to do herself justice if she continued racing.
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
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
The pair seemingly had one last fractious year together at SD Worx-Protime in 2024
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Pro cyclo-cross rider disqualified and fined after stomping on opponent's bike
Eli Iserbyt apologised for 'rage of anger' at event in Beringen
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘I only live 10km away’ - Cameron Mason on the pressure of a home British Cyclo-cross Championships
Scotsman says he will look to try and ‘take the race on’ at Callendar Park in Falkirk
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock to race just 10 cyclo-cross events this season
Former world champion confirmed as skipping World Championships in February
By Adam Becket Published
-
The six cyclo-cross races where Wout van Aert will face Mathieu van der Poel this year
The great Dutch and Belgian rivals will clash first on 22 December
By Adam Becket Last updated
-
Opinion: Are ‘the big three’ of Van Aert, Van der Poel and Pidcock good for cyclo-cross?
They have been world champions for the last decade, but are yet to race yet this season. What's going on?
By Adam Becket Published
-
European Cyclo-cross Championships rescheduled due to stormy weather
Local authority in western France stops Saturday's planned races from happening; races rescheduled to Sunday
By Adam Becket Published
-
Five riders to watch in UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup opener in Waterloo, USA this weekend
Here's who we think will boss the cross in Waterloo on Sunday
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Watch: Cyclo-cross rider snaps dislocated finger back into place mid-race
Michael van den Ham said his finger was at "the grossest 45-degree angle"
By Tom Davidson Published