Former Giro d'Italia stage winner forced to retire six months after being hit by truck in training crash

Andrey Amador has sadly decided to put an end to his career as a professional cyclist at the age of 38. Last May he suffered a terrible hit by a truck during a training ride and since then he had not been able to compete. Therefore, his final race will go down as the Tour de Romandie 2024, although he was unable to finish it.

The Costa Rican hangs up his bike after 16 seasons in the elite, two at Caisse d'Epargne, nine at Movistar Team, three at the INEOS Grenadiers and the last two at EF Education-EasyPost. He only managed a couple of victories, a stage in the 2012 Giro d'Italia, the race he was best at, and the 2018 Klasika Primavera in Amorebieta.

"After a career full of challenges and satisfactions I am here to announce that I am retiring from professional cycling. It has not been an easy decision. There are times when listening to our body and taking care of our health must be the priority," said Amador in a video he posted on his social networks. "Throughout my career I have had the honor of representing Costa Rica in the most prestigious international competitions, achieving things I never imagined, from my victory in stage 14 of the Giro d'Italia in 2012, to wearing the 'maglia rosa' as race leader in 2016. I take with me indelible memories and the satisfaction of having given the best of me in every pedal stroke."

He was an important teammate in top-level teams, standing out especially in the mountains. He competed in 18 Grand Tours (7 times in the Tour de France, 7 times in the Giro d'Italia and 4 times in the Vuelta a España) and 19 Monuments (2 times in Paris-Roubaix, 6 times in Milano-Sanremo, 5 times in the Tour of Flanders, 4 times in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and 2 times in Il Lombardia).