Nacer Bouhanni announces retirement from pro cycling - "I fought body and soul to try to regain my level in vain"

Nacer Bouhanni is retiring from pro cycling. The 33-year old French sprinter has achieved a lot early in his career, but could not return to his level after suffering countless injuries over the past years.

"Dear friends, loved ones, supporters, I announce my retirement after 27 years of competitive cycling. I have been thinking carefully about this decision for several months. I started cycling at the age of 6, it very quickly became a great passion," the Frenchman shared in an Instagram post. "70 victories, ups, downs, beautiful and less beautiful encounters, joys, disappointments, but I will only keep the best."

Bouhanni turned pro in 2011 with FDJ together with Arnaud Démare, both risen to the top of the sprinter world and then had an internal rivalry within the team. In 2015, after taking stage wins at the Vuelta a Espana and Giro d'Italia - alongside the points classification - he left for Cofidis. In 2018 he still won a sprint stage at the Vuelta, but his success diminished as new generations of sprinters emerged. Multiple altercations with other riders, team staff and hotel guests also put a dark shade in his stint in the spot.

However the injuries cost him the most. Time and time again the Frenchman had to endure unexpected dips in his health. In April of 2022 he hit a pedestrian at the Tour of Turkey that crossed the road ahead of the peloton and suffered serious injuries. "After my serious accident last year which cost me a serious cervical fracture and a very long rehabilitation, I had become a shadow of myself. I fought body and soul to try to regain my level in vain."

After 9 months sidelined he crashed again in his return to racing in 2023, he crashed on other occasions throughout the year. Ultimately, his level was far from what he had shown in the past this season. With Arnaud Démare coming in to lead the team and other sprinters filling the remaining leading spots, there was no place for Bouhanni in Arkéa Samsic anymore, and his fight to return to his best level ends.

"Life has decided otherwise. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love and support. I have some great projects coming up that are also exciting," he concluded, hinting at a possible documentary related to his career.