"26-year-old professional cyclist must abandon aspirations due to heart-related complications"
In a surprising turn of events, Dutch professional cyclist Lars van den Berg has announced his retirement from the sport due to heart issues. Van den Berg, who won the 2021 Paris-Roubaix, was due to start his fifth season with Groupama-FDJ.
Van den Berg revealed the news in an Instagram post, stating that 'extensive monitoring' by cardiologists determined that the risks of continuing racing were 'too great'. The cyclist, known for his discreet and trusted nature, expressed gratitude for the support he received during his career and thanked his team and fans for their understanding.
Despite the abrupt and heartbreaking end to his cycling career, van den Berg is not giving up. He plans to set new goals and work hard to achieve them. However, he remains uncertain about the direction of his next chapter.
Van den Berg's best result in his career was a second-place finish on a stage of La Route d'Occitanie in 2023. He also raced the Tour de France in 2023 and the Giro d'Italia twice. His last race was at the Faun-Ardèche Classic last February.
Team boss Marc Madiot praised van den Berg's human qualities and indispensable role in the team. Madiot said, 'Lars is a great person, a loyal and hardworking rider. He will be missed, but we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.'
Van den Berg's younger brother Marijn is a professional cyclist for EF Education-EasyPost. The two brothers had hoped to ride together on the same team, but that dream remains unfulfilled due to Lars' retirement.
Lars van den Berg's retirement comes after the retirement of Anna Shackley, who ended her racing career at the age of 22 due to cardiac arrhythmia. The cycling community has expressed its support for van den Berg and wished him the best in his future endeavours.
As for van den Berg's post-cycling plans, he has promised to keep his followers updated. At this time, there is no information available that he has a new trainer or what his new ventures will be. However, fans and well-wishers can be sure that van den Berg will continue to approach his new chapter with the same determination and grace that he brought to his cycling career.
