African trailblazer turned key domestique for Tadej Pogacar & Mads Pedersen waves goodbye with retirement announcement

Lidl-Trek rider Ryan Gibbons has announced that the 2025 season will be his final year in the professional peloton, bringing to a close more than a decade at the top level of the sport. The 30-year-old South African revealed the decision in a heartfelt message on social media, describing cycling as his “identity for more than half of my life” but acknowledging that “now is the time to unpin the numbers and call it an end to my career.”

Gibbons, who turned professional in 2017 with Dimension Data, has built a career defined by resilience and versatility. Known initially for his sprinting ability, he transitioned into one of the most reliable all-rounders in the WorldTour, riding for UAE Team Emirates before joining Lidl–Trek in 2024. His palmarès includes a Tour de Langkawi overall victory, a national road race title, and appearances in cycling’s biggest races, from the Grand Tours to the World Championships.

Reflecting on his journey, Gibbons said he felt “privileged enough to live the dream for the past 10 years, racing and living abroad,” competing alongside “the greatest riders in the sport” and “meeting the most extraordinary people.” Cycling, he explained, had given him “the opportunity to do things beyond my wildest dreams and a life I could have never imagined.”

But alongside the highs came inevitable setbacks. Gibbons pointed to “injuries, illnesses and just sheer bad luck,” compounded by the challenges of building a career far from home. “Coming from South Africa has also added huge challenges in pursuing this career,” he admitted. “Residency and visa issues have been a constant and endless struggle and stress which many will never understand or comprehend.”

Gibbons reserved special thanks for the teams he rode for — Dimension Data, UAE Team Emirates, and Lidl–Trek — and to the staff and teammates who shared the journey. “We’ve suffered together, won together and lost together. I have so much respect for each and every one of you and I am humbled and proud to have had shared this experience with you.”

He also highlighted the vital role of his family, particularly his wife and young son, in sustaining his career through the highs and lows of life on the road. “This life has not been simple or easy and your sacrifice and unconditional love has carried me through. You’ve seen the highest highs and lowest lows and been there every step of the way. I could never say thank you enough.”

For South African cycling, Gibbons has been a flagbearer in a sport where distance, logistics, and opportunity often work against riders from outside Europe. His move to UAE Team Emirates in 2021 placed him on one of the strongest squads in the world, where he became a trusted domestique for the likes of Tadej Pogacar. In 2024, his signing with Lidl–Trek reflected his continued value as an experienced, versatile rider in both stage races and the Classics.

While his victory tally may not rival the sport’s biggest stars, his consistency, professionalism, and ability to adapt roles — from sprint finisher to mountain domestique — made him one of the peloton’s most dependable presences.

As he prepares for one final campaign in 2025, Gibbons admits the decision was not easy but feels the time is right. “It’s been a wild ride, but now it’s time to go home,” he concluded, signing off with the South African flag emoji.