Iljo Keisse celebrates retirement with fans and teammates - "It's the very best day of my career"

Iljo Keisse said his last goodbyes to cycling in Kuipke on Thursday. He was joined by 6,000 fans, as well as his most important teammates from his cycling career, at a special farewell celebration.

"I am speechless. It's the very best day of my career," Keisse told Het Nieuwsblad. He got a bit emotional before continuing again. "This is really crazy. What it was all going to be, I didn't know beforehand, but I quickly saw what proportions it was all taking on. It's not something another rider of my level gets. I can say I've done a lot for others in my career, but what I've gotten in return? Thank you."

Thanking his fans and teammates for being there to celebrate his retirement, he expressed his gratitude. "I think it's fantastic that everyone has been willing to do that for me. I thank my family and Patrick Lefevere. Now the circle is complete. I became a rider to ride six-day races and not to win the Tour of Flanders. I have always raced on adrenaline, on support. Merci for all the beautiful moments," said Keisse.

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl has hired the Belgian as a team manager. "In the meantime, I have succeeded as a team manager at the UCI in Aigle, but I am already a few team meetings behind. Even today I missed one. On December 1, I am already back at work. As a team leader, I also want to go step by step. It will be different with Remco. No longer in the same room but along the other side of the table. It will be adjusted. For everyone," Keisse concluded.