Joaquim Rodriguez announces retirement from cycling on first Tour de France rest day
In an emotional announcement during the Tour de France rest day, Joaquim Rodriguez said that this season would be his last
Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) has announced that he will retire from professional cycling at the end of the present season.
Purito made the emotional statement to journalists on the first rest day of the 2016 Tour de France in Andorra, where he lives.
The 37-year-old is in his 16th season as a professional cyclist. He presently sits fifth on the general classification at the Tour de France, 37 seconds behind the yellow jersey of Chris Froome (Team Sky).
A podium finish is within his ability, but over the years he has been something of a nearly man; most notably when he finished second at the 2012 Giro d'Italia behind Ryder Hesjedal.
Purito held the overall lead from stage nine until stage 19 (bar one stage in the middle), only losing on the final stage time trial to finish just 16 seconds behind the Canadian overall.
The Spaniard boasts stage wins in all three Grand Tours but could never get to the top step of the podium in the final classification.
Video is in Spanish
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Rodriguez said, "2016 will be my last season as a professional rider. I still enjoy this sport so much but I am 37 years old. One day I will have to stop anyway and I prefer to do this when I am still riding at a high level.
"I spoke about this already last year with my family. 2016 is a special year with the Tour de France coming to my Andorra," he contined.
"There are also the Olympic Games in Rio on a course that suits me very well. The most important reason to stop however is my family. They deserve to have me more with them. They always supported me. Now it’s my turn to support them."
He went on to say he wouldn't now just sit back and ride out the season: "I will give my maximum like I did my whole career. I would be happy to finish my Tour career in the top ten, but of course I still dream of another overall podium in Paris.
"The support I got yesterday on the Pyrenees roads helps me to go on till my last day in cycling. For the moment I have no idea what will be my last race. In theory Rio and Tour of Spain are still on my programme."
Purito looked back at his long career in his statement including two victories at the Tour of Lombardy and a Spanish national championships win.
"I have so many memories. Now I think of my super year 2012 with Il Lombardia in the pouring rain but also I think of my silver medal at the 2013 World Championships. Not to have won there still hurts but that’s cycling."
Over such a long career he's seen the sport change, something he touched on in his comments. "In those 17 years I lived so many things in cycling. The sport of 2016 has nothing to do anymore with cycling in 2000 when I started. I saw so many things and so many good riders, from Johan Museeuw to Nairo Quintana."
Despite never winning a Grand Tour he has a palmarès in the biggest races that many would love to finish their career with.
Rodriguez finished second overall in the Vuelta a España in 2015 and second there in 2012. He counts two other Grand Tour podium places in his career: third in the Tour de France (2013), second in the Giro d'Italia (2012).
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
Jack Elton-Walters hails from the Isle of Wight, and would be quick to tell anyone that it's his favourite place to ride. He has covered a varied range of topics for Cycling Weekly, producing articles focusing on tech, professional racing and cycling culture. He moved on to work for Cyclist Magazine in 2017 where he stayed for four years until going freelance. He now returns to Cycling Weekly from time-to-time to cover racing, review cycling gear and write longer features for print and online.
-
We rode and reviewed the Ouray, Parlee Cycles' first new bike model since facing bankruptcy
The storied American brand continues with a Portugal-made carbon steed that goes zoom but doesn’t fit like a race bike
By Tyler Boucher Published
-
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
-
'I have to pinch myself and figure out if it's real or not, especially after all the s**t in the past': Stevie Williams ahead of World Championships debut
Welshman looking to end best ever year on a high in Zurich after Tour down Under, Flèche Wallonne and Tour of Britain Men victories
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Joe Blackmore, young British winning machine, promoted to senior Israel-Premier Tech team early
Winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 and three stage races moves up to ProTeam months early
By Adam Becket Published
-
Israel-Premier Tech to tackle Paris-Roubaix on gravel bikes
Team will ride the Factor Ostro Gravel in Sunday’s cobbled Monument
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Introducing the British rider with a 100% GC record in 2024
Victories at the Tour du Rwanda and Tour de Taiwan cap a glittering start to pro life for the 21-year-old
By Adam Becket Published
-
Israel-Premier Tech riders to be issued with blank training kit due to safety concerns after Israel-Hamas war
Riders issued with different kit for training alone if they deem it necessary
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Chris Froome's boss rubbishes claims bike fit is behind lack of results
'He can talk about his bike position until the cows come home - that's still not going to earn him a position on a Grand Tour team' says Israel-Premier Tech team owner Sylvan Adams
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It's not nice to lose in that way' - Tragic end for breakaway duo on stage six of the Giro d'Italia
Simon Clarke and Alessandro De Marchi had their dreams crushed with 200m to go in Napoli
By Adam Becket Published
-
Back to Africa: Chris Froome on going back to his roots, his future and cycling's new generation
He’s come full circle, but is there time for another loop? We talk to the four-time Tour champ about his and African cycling’s future
By Adam Becket Published