He’s currently the oldest rider in the UCI WorldTour but after saying twelve months ago that he’d do one more year as a pro, Jens Voigt has again delayed his retirement.
The RadioShack Leopard rider stated via Twitter that he will compete in 2014 then, finally, hang up his wheels.
“No No- no retirement yet!! I will happily ride that new bike a whole new saison [sic] next year- Down Under, Europe, Asia and again Amerika [sic]...” he stated.
“It will take me all of next year to slowly say good bye and get my mind around the fact that I will retire end of next year... But not yet!!”
Voigt has been a pro since 1997, when he made his debut with the ZVVZ-Giant-Australian Institute of Sport team. He’s also competed with Gan/Credit Agricole, CSC/Saxo Bank and Leopard Trek in that time, winning a record five editions of the Critérium International, two editions of the Deutschland Tour and Bayern Rundfahrt, the Tour of Poland, the Grand Prix des Nations, a stage of the Giro d’Italia and two in the Tour de France.
But, as much as those wins have been important, he’s also gained a lot of plaudits for his aggressive, caution to the wind style of racing.
The 41 year old is still riding successfully, taking a stage of the Tour of California earlier this year. He also rode well for his team in the Tour de France, but said afterwards that it was almost certainly his final participation in the race.
He sought to go out with a flourish, riding clear on the final mountain stage and securing the most combative rider award for his efforts.
Voigt is currently competing in the Tour of Utah and will then do the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, where he won a stage plus the mountains jersey in 2012.
As he hinted with his tweet about riding the same bike next year, he is expected to move across to the new Trek racing team. The squad is buying the RadioShack Leopard licence from its current owners, and has already announced the signature of Fabian Cancellara and the Schleck brothers.