Alexander Kristoff seems to confirm retirement: “I feel like I don’t have the strength I used to have and that’s demotivating"
Cycling
Alexander Kristoff appears to be approaching the final
chapter of his long and decorated career. The 37-year-old Norwegian has
confirmed he is likely to retire at the end of the 2025 season, signalling the
conclusion of more than 15 years in the professional peloton.
“I can confirm with almost certainty that this is my last
season,” he told Het Nieuwsblad.
Kristoff has amassed an impressive list of achievements over
the years, including four Tour de France stage wins, victory at Milano–Sanremo,
and a triumph at the Tour of Flanders. Yet despite still producing strong
results, the veteran admits he no longer feels at his best.
"The results may not be bad — I came fourth in
Gent-Wevelgem, for example — but I am no longer at my best.”
His decision to step away isn’t just about form, but also
motivation and priorities beyond cycling.
“I feel like I don’t have the strength I used to have and
that’s demotivating. Yes, I could still achieve results next year. But that
also applied to Tom Boonen when he stopped. Or Fabian Cancellara. In his last
race he became Olympic time trial champion. You have to stop at some point. I’m
almost 38 years old, I have four children. So there’s much more to my life than
just the bike.”
Kristoff spoke candidly about the toll the sport has taken
in recent years.
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“Cycling has defined almost my entire life so far. I can
hardly remember a time when I wasn’t cycling. I’m currently enjoying my sport
less. As a cyclist, you take a lot of risks; I’ve had two serious falls in the
past few weeks. When you win, cycling is fun. When you win less, it’s mostly a
lot of stress.”
Currently sitting on 97 professional victories, Kristoff has
one final goal in mind before he calls time on his career.
"So I definitely want to win three more times," he
said earlier.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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