Danish veteran Fuglsang to quit after Giro / Photo: © AFP
Danish veteran Fuglsang to quit after Giro
Danish rider Jakob Fuglsang, winner of two Monuments and twice of the Criterium du Dauphine, announced on Friday that he would be retiring after the final stage of the Giro d'Italia, at the age of 40.
"The last stage of the Giro on Sunday will be my last race for Israel Premier Tech," the Dane said in a video released by his team.
"I've had a fantastic career that has given me much more than I ever dreamed of. But all good things come to an end and it's time for me to spend more time with my family and make way for the young riders."
After beginning his professional career on mountain bikes, Fuglsang made a successful switch to the road.
He won the Criterium in 2017 and 2019 when he also won his first Monument, the Liege-Bastogne-Liege. The following year he added the Tour of Lombardy.
In recent years Fuglsang has played the role of road captain for riders such as Canadian Derek Gee, fourth overall in the Giro at the start of stage 19 on Friday.
"When I extended my contract with the team, we agreed on a seven-month contract to support our general classification project with Derek Gee," he explained.
"It's been a fantastic adventure, and I'm happy to finish at a level where I can still play a part and give something back to the team.
While Fuglsang is closing his career with Israel Premier Tech, Fuglsang said he might make a final farewell by riding one last time in the Tour of Denmark, which he has won three times, in August.
I.Paterson--TNT
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