Jelle Wallays' career comes to an end as the double Paris-Tours champion fails to find a new team

Jelle Wallays will not wear a jersey number in the professional peloton next year. The 34-year-old Belgian did not receive a contract extension at Cofidis and is now ceasing his search for a new team as we approach the later parts of the transfer window.

With 2 Paris-Tours, Across Flanders and a stage in the Vuelta, Jelle Wallays has a list of honors that many colleagues could only dream of. The Flemish baroudeur always benefited from long breakaways and active style of racing in combination with ability to read the race well.

After 10 years in Belgian teams, Wallays opted for a French adventure at Cofidis in 2021, but high-profile results simply were not coming. Wallays was told that he could look elsewhere for next season and approached various teams. Without a response.

"I notice that cycling teams are following the trend of mainly attracting youth cyclists. My generation is a bit of a victim of that," Wallays said earlier. Now it's time for a new chapter: "I can look back on a wonderful career with ups and downs, but the fun and drive always prevailed," he writes on Instagram.