Alpecin talent ends career after deaths in pro cycling - "I became increasingly concerned about my safety"

Germany's Louis Kitzki was the winner of the Zwift Academy competition in 2024, following big names such as Jay Vine and Luca Vergallito who then grew as climbers within Alpecin-Deceuninck through it's deal with the team. The 21-year old could've had a similar path but has announced his retirement from pro cycling due to fears that have developed after being involved in several races where fellow riders passed away.

"Probably not the kind of career end I had imagined... After participating in my last race, the Giro Ciclistico Valle D'Aosta, and the associated death of Samuele Privitera, I decided to end my career as a professional cyclist," Kitzki wrote in his Instagram page.

The tragedy involving the Italian rider affected many in the cycling world and in Kitzki's case it was the last straw, proving to be the deciding factor for his premature retirement from the sport. "After last year's Tour of Austria, where another rider (André Dege, ed.) died, I already had serious doubts about racing and was on the verge of quitting. Nevertheless, I continued and largely suppressed what had happened. Unfortunately, after the Tour of Austria, I never became the racer I once was again," he admits. "I became increasingly concerned about my safety and felt increasingly uncomfortable in races, which in the medium term meant that I was never able to reproduce in races what I had worked so hard to achieve in training".

The physical and psychological difficulties that followed this string of incidents meant that the Alpecin-Deceuninck development team rider could not race in the same way that he has done before, but he also did not have the same passion towards racing that he once had.

"Towards the end, races were unfortunately just an annoying side effect that you had to accept if you wanted to earn money from cycling. I had completely lost the fun of racing, and the more chaotic a race became, the more brutally I broke down mentally. Unfortunately, without the mind, the body only functions poorly. What happened in the Aosta Valley was ultimately just confirmation of my decision, and I can see how well I've been doing since I quit".

The German rider was in his second year of contract with the team, but has decided to hang up the wheels before potentially taking the leap to the World Tour. "I regret that I was unable to live up to some expectations as a professional cyclist and that my collaboration with Alpecin is now coming to an end. Nevertheless, I am certain that it was the right decision to stop. Nonetheless, I am very grateful for the opportunity I was given by my team Alpecin Deceuninck and Zwift. I was able to learn from the best cyclists in the world and got to know many nice people on the team".

"In addition, I was able to significantly improve my physical condition thanks to my trainer Philipp Walsleben, even though I was never really able to show it in the races. I felt that this team is very aware of its responsibility towards young athletes and I never felt pressured in any way. I always enjoyed the training and the improvement process very much and hopefully I will find the time to cycle again occasionally in the future. Thanks to all my teammates, the entire staff, Philipp, Sander, Bart, Jens, Luuc, and Ahto! I wish you all the best and stay safe!