Tadej Pogacar leads tributes as Intermarché star announces retirement following protest-caused crash at La Vuelta 2025

Simone Petilli has announced he will retire from professional cycling at the end of the season, with his final race set to be Il Lombardia. The 32-year-old Italian revealed his decision on Instagram, drawing warm tributes from across the peloton – including a heartfelt message from world champion Tadej Pogacar.

Petilli’s career conclusion comes just a week after he was brought down by a demonstrator during the Vuelta a Espana, an incident that thrust him briefly into the spotlight. “I understand this isn’t an easy situation, but yesterday I crashed because of a protest on the road,” he said at the time. “We’re just cyclists doing our jobs, but if this continues, we feel unsafe. We just want to race!”

His retirement statement carried a very different tone. “I did what I dreamt of as a child: I travelled the world by bike, raced against the champions I once watched on television, and tried to imitate them by riding as hard as I could and climbing every hill I could find. As a boy, turning professional was the goal, and I achieved it. Without even realising, I turned my job into my passion, learning and experiencing things that very few ever do.”

Petilli turned pro via Italian continental squads, spent time at UAE, and rounded out his career with six years at Intermarché - Wanty. He never managed a World Tour victory, though he did win the Ronde de l’Isard in his U23 days, and he remembers the Giro d’Italia as a defining experience.

“The Giro fills every May in Italy, and I had the honour of racing it five times,” he said. “Dreaming of the Maglia Rosa, of a stage win, or even just of crossing the finish line – those memories will stay with me forever.”

He also spoke candidly about the demands of life as a professional: “Three weeks of racing, training every day, travelling constantly, weighing every meal, taking care of your body while stressing it to the limit. Racing in the rain, in the cold, or at 40 degrees under a burning sun. But I enjoyed myself. I did everything I wanted – or almost everything.”

The tributes flowing in under his post highlight just how many friendships Petilli forged across the peloton. Pogacar wrote a simple message of gratitude to the Italian: “Thank you Simone.” His Intermarché team-mate Gerben Thijssen added: “You’re a great, thank you so much.”

Others soon followed: Matej Mohorič congratulated him on his career and urged him to enjoy a “less tiring” chapter of life, Rui Costa offered his thanks, Arne Marit praised Petilli’s positivity over their three seasons together, while Fabio Aru added: “Thank you Simone, congratulations on everything.”

Petilli confirmed that his final race will be his home Monument. “Now it’s time to give back to cycling what it has given me. My last Grand Tour is behind me, but I’ll say farewell at Il Lombardia. See you there.”