"I don't wish it on anyone" - Odd Christian Eiking unemployed and struggling for contract at worst possible time as heavily pregnant wife nears childbirth

Although he's just recently turned 29, Odd Christian Eiking's professional career within the peloton is dangerously close to reaching it's conclusion as he enters February still without a contract. To make matters worse, his wife is currently heavily pregnant.

"Right now it's nice to be at home with my heavily pregnant wife, so that I can experience the birth without any stress about it," the Norwegian, former EF Education-EasyPost and Intermarché - Wanty rider says to TV2 about his delicate situation. "As a cyclist, the future is never completely certain. When this child was conceived, everything went smoothly, even if it is now a little off course. I am betting that it will work out."

A former wearer of the Red Jersey at the Vuelta a Espana, a stage winner at the Arctic Race of Norway and the Tour de Wallonie, just why is Eiking so struggling to find a new contract after leaving EF Education-EasyPost at the end of 2023? "There has been a lot of pressure, I would say," Eiking attempts to answer this question.

"I wouldn't say that I was unlucky with the team and the team management, too much is probably on me too. But I somehow never quite found the rhythm in EF," he reflects. "It is strange. I have gone from being at the top of my career to being in this situation in two years. It has gone very fast."

As we now enter February, Eiking is still waiting for anything concrete that could prolong his career, despite talks of a return to Intermarche. "I imagined that I would sign for them before Christmas, but they haven't had the funds to do so. They hope to bring in some additional sponsorship funds, so that they can make it happen," he says. "But if it doesn't turn out to be them, then I will probably find something else during the spring."

"I'm not stressing about this, I'm looking forward to the future. Now, fortunately, I have something else to occupy my mind," he concludes, referring to the imminent birth of his first child. "It will be something completely new. I have no idea, I can hardly imagine. But it will be nice to focus on something else too. Cycling is important, but not in the grand scheme of things."