Elia Viviani receives an emotional farewell in final race: "This is the perfect ending"

In 2025, many high-profile riders have announced their retirement. One of them has been the Italian sprinter Elia Viviani, who is hanging his bike after an extremely successful career both on the road and on the track.

Although he ended on a high note by winning the elimination race at the recent World Championships in Chile, his true farewell came this week during the Six Days of Ghent, a six-day track cycling race held annually in Ghent. The legendary Kuipke velodrome paid tribute to Viviani as the 36-year-old Italian officially concluded his professional cycling career.

Riding alongside Jasper De Buyst and while still in contention for the overall win, Viviani received a warm ceremony before racing resumed. Wearing his rainbow jersey for the last time in a professional race, he was honoured by everyone attending the event.

All participants of the six-day event formed a guard of honour with their bikes, creating a symbolic passage for the retiring rider. Filippo Ganna, who was Viviani's teammate at Ineos between 2022 and 2024, joined the tribute as well. As an added gesture, Viviani received flowers from Iljo Keisse, with whom he won the Six Days of Ghent in 2018.

Viviani spoke emotionally after the ceremony. “Luckily I am not crying,” he said in comments gathered by Sporza. “That means it is the right decision. It is what I want, and this is what I have dreamed of: to finish on this track with these people around me. I really have goosebumps. This is the perfect ending.”

With three Olympic medals, three world titles on the track and five Giro d’Italia stage wins, Viviani said he leaves the sport deeply satisfied. “There are many big wins, but my Olympic title in the omnium in 2016 changed my career. In that moment I realised that I could win and aim higher.”

Viviani also offered advice to young riders. “Find your own place and dream big. Otherwise you will never take the step forward. Work hard to become the best version of yourself.” He closed his speech thanking the fans for always supporting him. “I feel privileged because for years I could practice my passion. This last dance is for you. Thank you for the support and the emotions during the past 20 years.”

Viviani retires as one of the most prolific sprinters of his generation, having accumulated 90 professional wins over 15 years. He won in all the three Grand Tours, and his last victory came back in April this year at the seventh stage of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkiye.