“I'm finding it increasingly difficult to make all the necessary sacrifices”: Former World Tour rider and Giro/Vuelta KOM winner confirms retirement at end of 2026 season

Geoffrey Bouchard has announced that 2026 will be the final season of his professional career, bringing an end to a journey that saw him rise from a late starter to a respected climber in the WorldTour peloton. Speaking before stage 7 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the 34-year-old Frenchman explained that the increasing physical demands of modern cycling and the sacrifices required to compete at the highest level have convinced him that the time has come to step away from the sport.

Bouchard had already considered retirement at the end of last season before deciding to continue for one more year with TotalEnergies. However, he has now confirmed that there will be no further extension to his career.

“This will be my last season in the professional peloton,” Bouchard said. “I think I've looked into the matter thoroughly, examined every aspect.”

The Frenchman admitted that keeping pace with the modern peloton has become increasingly difficult and that he no longer feels willing to make the same sacrifices required to remain competitive. “I'm starting to feel like I'm physically struggling to keep up with the group,” he explained. “I'm finding it increasingly difficult to make all the necessary sacrifices, to take risks in the race.”

Reflecting on the previous day's stage, he pointed to the intensity and nervousness of modern racing as an example of how demanding the sport has become.

“Yesterday, in fact, the pace was very high and in the group, everyone was a bit nervous, they were brushing each other, they were moving a bit to the right and left, and unfortunately some riders paid the consequences.”

The Frenchman believes cycling has evolved significantly during his time in the sport, particularly with the preparation and professionalism of younger riders. “High-level cycling today requires a huge commitment, a lot of sacrifices, and a lot of travel,” he said. “You have to be careful about what you eat, weigh your food, lead an almost monastic life.”

Bouchard also reflected on his own development, admitting that it took years to fully understand how to maximise his abilities, while today's young riders arrive in the professional ranks with far greater support and knowledge.

“Speaking as a veteran, I have to admit that I made a lot of mistakes before I was able to fully exploit my potential, even though I got there at an advanced age,” he said. “Now, 19- or 18-year-olds already have everything at their disposal: the right diet, the right training, and equivalent genetic potential.”

Rather than viewing retirement with disappointment, Bouchard sees it as a natural next step and hopes to remain connected to the sport in some capacity.

“I think they are better than us, and I'm convinced that it's the right time to move on, without feeling any resentment towards cycling,” he concluded. “I hope one day to be able to put my experience to good use, but for me, it's over.”

Bouchard only turned professional in 2019 with AG2R La Mondiale at the age of 27, but quickly established himself as a capable climber. His career highlights include winning the mountains classifications at the 2019 Vuelta a España and the 2021 Giro d’Italia, as well as claiming a stage victory at the 2022 Tour of the Alps.