"I am not going to take risks for the minimum wage anymore" - Ben Hermans risks retirement after not being renewed by Cofidis

Ben Hermans was one of Cofidis' signings into 2024, and was an attempt to get a strong and experienced climber helping it's efforts to score enough UCI points to stay afloat in the World Tour. The Belgian did not get to renew with the French team and his career may come to an end soon, as he is also aware of the risks in the sport and that at this point in his career it's not worth continuing if he doesn't receive something appropriate for his level.

“I knew from September that I would not get a new contract with Cofidis. But honestly? I had felt that coming," Hermans told Wielerflits. "I knew that I had to look for another team, and that this search would not be easy because of my age and demands. I also told my manager what my feeling was, and what I would still like to do. Once you start making demands, there are many young riders who want to sign for a lower salary in your place.” The 38-year old is aware of the challenges, and the desire for teams to sign young riders that can develop into new leaders.

But Hermans found himself to be a leader himself in Cofidis, which makes it surprising why the team did not want to keep him on board for 2025. “Most of the time I was the man who had to do it in the final. Especially because I turned out to be one of the strongest riders in the team. But of course I also need support in the final to be able to make a difference. We also very often ended up in the situation that we were riding with a team where the majority did not have a contract. Everyone rode for themselves. If you then have to ride against strong blocks, you don't stand a chance.”

A difficult situation that the team found itself, which then ultimately affects it's riders as well. “I find that very strange. In our team, half of them were not renewed. Of course there are always lesser riders who still have a contract, riders who already had a contract for two years. In that respect I find it strange. Especially when they say that age is a problem. In the end, age doesn't matter if you ride better than others? But for me it's not a problem, I'm not going to worry about it.”

Hermans has already been a pro rider since 2007 and has raced at the highest level of the sport since 2010. Since he's had quite a few injuries and is aware of the risks that come with being a pro cyclist, which is part of the reason why he is not too fond of signing a new contract with a low salary - something he may still be offered by a few teams, taking into consideration his recent results.

“Partly financial. But also, an offer from a continental team or a lesser ProTeam, I am less able to charge myself for that. I fully understand that it can be a decent team for a young rider who wants to grow and learn. But I am not interested in that anymore," he explains. "I also know well enough what dangers there are in the sport, I have been in hospital often enough. The sacrifices are not a problem for me, but I am not going to take risks for the minimum wage anymore.”