Leah Kirchmann announces her retirement - "After 12 years in the professional peloton, I’ve decided that I’m ready to invest my energy in other things"

After a 12-year career in professional cycling, Leah Kirchmann has announced her retirement. She will officially step down after competing in the World Championships in Australia next month.

Kirchmann made her professional debut in 2011 with the Colavita-Forno d’Asolo team. “After 12 years in the professional peloton, I’ve decided that I’m ready to invest my energy in other things away from WorldTour racing,” Kirchmann said.

She continues, “Thank you to everyone who helped me on this journey. I never imagined when I first stepped on a bike as a young girl back in Winnipeg that I would one day compete in two Olympic Games, race professionally, and represent Canada proudly for so many years on the international stage.”

She won the national time trial championship in 2014 and then in 2018 and 2019. She also won the national road race title in 2014. She won the team time trial in 2017. Although her career became slow-paced in this season last year, she finished second in GC in Festival Elsy Jacobs.

“I feel motivated by the momentum behind women’s sport and will continue to help build a better future. If sport has taught me anything, it is that I love to learn and love to embrace big challenges, so I look forward to exploring other opportunities and adventures in this life,” concluded Kirchmann.