Ide Schelling announces imminent retirement aged just 27: “It was truly special”

Ide Schelling has decided to end his professional cycling career at just 27 years old. The Dutch rider, currently with XDS Astana after a previous stint at BORA, revealed the news on the De Grote Plaat podcast. A promising junior who finished 4th at Liège U23 in 2018 and 7th in the 2016 junior world road race, Schelling confirmed that his final race will be the Tour of Holland in October, starting in his hometown of The Hague with a prologue.

"I'm here to announce that I'm retiring as a WorldTour rider. And that I'm no longer as in love with the world and life as I once was," Schelling said. "For me, this is a very normal and logical decision."

He explained how changes in the peloton influenced his decision. "A lot has changed in the peloton since I turned pro in 2020. All those changes have also meant that the overall level of the peloton has increased so much that sometimes I feel like I can't compete anymore."

Despite memorable highlights, including a stage victory at the Itzulia Basque Country in 2023, he admitted the pace of modern racing left him struggling. "I don't have a particularly big engine. I know that about myself, but you need such a big engine these days to compete in a final. It's a fast race all the way, from start to finish. Because of that, I feel like I'm not really competing anymore. But I think that's important."

Schelling’s ride at the 2024 Vuelta also shaped his outlook. "I rode some fantastic performances for my standards, but I was knocked out of the top fifteen," he recalled. "Then it became clear to me. I didn't want to do this for the next five to ten years."

Time away from the sport was another factor. "It definitely also played a role that when you have to dedicate so much time to your sport, it's almost impossible to combine it with a life outside of it," he said. "I love a lot of things besides cycling. If you only have a few weeks a year to do that, I personally think that's not enough."

Looking forward, Schelling shared his hopes for life after the WorldTour. "I'd love to learn how to garden, have allotments, maybe even create a food forest. I hope to find a way to still be active on the bike. I also hope to continue racing, but maybe only half the year instead of eleven months. A nice mix of fixed gear and gravel, for example."

Reflecting on his career, he said he had already exceeded his own expectations. "When I turned pro, I didn't necessarily think I would win a race or be a truly great rider. I wondered if I would ever go to the Tour. But that happened a year later, with a starring role in the first week. It was truly very, very special."