Jens Keukeleire about what's next beyond his racing career's end: "I think being a DS might be something I would be good at"

Jens Keukeleire retires as one of the most liked and respected riders in the peloton. Over the course of his 14-year career, the Belgian all-rounder won eleven races, including a Vuelta stage and twice the GC at the Tour of Belgium. His latest employer, the EF Education-EasyPost, caught up with the 34-year-old for a lengthy interview.

"For the moment it still feels like an off-season. This time, it is just going to be for a little bit longer. I’m just enjoying being able to do stuff that I am not able to do during the season, just being at home, enjoying being at home. That is how it feels for the moment. Actually, usually when I had my offseason I would try not to exercise, not to do any sports, and that is something a little bit different now. I did half a marathon last Sunday."

"Nothing is decided yet, but I would like to continue my way in cycling. I would be interested in becoming a DS. I am not really sure where or how that might go, but I hope to make a decision about that pretty soon now."

"I have been in a lot of different teams, like really different teams. I have worked on sprint leadouts, worked for GC leaders, and I have won races myself too. I think being a DS might be something I would be good at. It is definitely something that I would be excited to try and to see if it suits me, so I hope that that is where my future is now."