"I was born and raised on a bicycle, but outside there is more life": Movistar veteran prepares for life after cycling
Cycling
The 2025 season is over. Although this last year on the road was not meant to be Davide Cimolai's farewell, the Italian has found himself in a situation where he has decided that the most logical thing to do is to hang up the bike. At 36 years of age, the Movistar Team member believes that the best thing for his future is to retire professionally.
In a statement to tuttobiciweb, Davide Cimolai has announced his decision to put an end to his long career. After spending the last two years of his career with the Movistar team, and after failing to secure a renewal with the telephone squad for 2026, the Italian does not want to sign for another team in the cycling market either, and will therefore say goodbye to cycling.
"At the beginning of the year I had set myself the goal of racing also in 2026, but I have encountered a very demanding season, both physically and mentally. To have fun and perform at my best, I need to be at 100%, because I'm not a phenomenon and I'm already of a certain age, but this year I never reached the level I wanted to," Cimolai began by pointing out about his last season.
"I would have liked to spend another year with Movistar Team, but the idea of starting over in a different environment honestly doesn't interest me. The races are getting more and more exhausting and the training more and more specific. 16 years as a pro, I've enjoyed them, but I'm at peace with myself. I have nothing more to ask for," Davide Cimolai added sincerely.
Cimolai does not close the door completely
Although Davide Cimolai's decision seems to have been made, the former Movistar Team rider does not want to close the door on another year:
Davide Cimolai bids farewell to cycling with Movistar Team as his last team
"I am evaluating some proposals from the environment, but I would say that 2025 has been my last year as a professional. Even so, I want to weigh my options carefully. Continuing is a possibility, especially to help young people. But over time I've developed an interest in other things, like farming. I'd like to try my hand at it. I was born and raised on a bicycle, but outside there is more life."
Finally, Davide Cimolai also opens the door to focus on running races: "I've always liked it, I'd like to start doing some half marathons soon, with the ultimate dream of one day running the New York marathon," concluded Davide Cimolai, who, barring any surprises, will retire from cycling.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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