Cycling: Everything comes to an end. After the 2021 season, numerous well-known professional cyclists will end their long careers. There are also some Germans, such as Tony Martin, André Greipel and Marcel Sieberg.
André Greipel: 158 wins in 17 years
undoubtedly heard André Greipel one of the best sprinters of all time. The German celebrated a total of 158 victories in his career, 11 of them in the Tour de France. But at the age of 39, the time has come to say goodbye to professional road cycling. The gorilla – as he is reverently called by his fans – is retiring. Also the same age Marcel Sieberg hangs up his bike. For years he was a starter for André Greipel and thus largely responsible for one or the other success.
Tony Martin: Four-time world time trial champion
Our preview of Tony Martin one of the best time trialists of the past decades is retiring. 10x he was German champion, 4x world champion. He won 5 stages of the Tour de France, where he was allowed to wear the yellow jersey for a few days. He resigned at the age of 36 because he had to put up with numerous injuries recently. When he wasn't on the road fighting the clock, he usually excelled as a loyal helper. The same applies to his compatriots Paul Martens, Andreas Schillinger and Philip Walsleben, all three of whom were less allowed to ride on their own, but were always valued as helpers in professional cycling.
Mathias Frank: Swiss consistency in the GC
2016 won Matthew Frank a stage of the Vuelta a Espana. The strong climber from Switzerland celebrated a total of 7 victories in his career. It could have been a lot more if the now 34-year-old hadn't always placed well in the overall classification. However, he managed to finish in the top 10 on numerous tours. He was always a candidate for the GC in the Tour de France, the Tour de Romandie and several times in the Tour de Suisse.
Dan Martin: Stage & Classic Hunter
Even if it has lost some of its explosiveness in recent years, we will Dan Martin always remember sprinting up the mountains while standing. The Irishman was particularly strong when the climbs were not too long but steep. During his successful career he won, among other things, Liège – Bastogne – Liège and the Tour of Lombardy. He is also one of the few active riders who has been able to win stages in all three major national tours. At the age of 35 he is now ending his career.
Roman Kreuziger: Not only fifth overall on the 2013 tour
At the age of 35 also ended Roman Crucifier his active career. The Czech mostly appeared as a helper in the mountains. In 2013 he did this in particularly impressive fashion, finishing fifth overall in the Tour de France behind teammate Alberto Contador and triumphing in the Amstel Gold Race. However, he had his best years in 2008 and 2009, when he won the Tour de Romandie and the Tour de Suisse, as well as the Clasica San Sebastian.
Tejay van Garderen: The Eternal Talent
once was true Tejay van Garderen as the greatest GC talent. Many experts expected him to win the tour. But the American could never meet these expectations. After two fifth places in the Tour de France, things went downhill for him. In his career he won the Tour of California and stages at the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de Suisse, among others. Thanks to numerous other top 10 results, one can certainly speak of a successful career, even if he will be remembered as an eternal talent.
Nicolas Roche: The big footsteps of the father
It's not easy being the son of a legend. Especially not if you do the same job. Stephen Roche won the 1987 Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the World Road Championships. With that he went down in history. Two decades later, many expected similar things from Nicholas Roche. But he couldn't live up to expectations. The now 10-year-old has to be satisfied with two stage wins at the Vuelta a Espana and top 37 results in the GC.
Fabio Aru: An unfinished career
With only 31 years also returns Fabio Arau turned his back on active cycling. The Italian has tried again and again in recent years to build on his old strength - but it didn't work. He won stages in all three major national tours and was considered a huge GC talent. He then confirmed this in 2015 with his second place at the Giro d'Italia and overall victory at the Vuelta a Espana. The Italians were looking forward to a new dominator in the mountains. But they were disappointed. Fabio Aru was never able to build on these strong results. Although he managed to finish fifth in the Tour de France again in 2017, not much was to be seen of him after that.