Tadej Pogacar's former right-hand man Jan Polanc ends cycling career due to heart issues

Jan Polanc has last raced as a pro rider at the 2022 Gran Piemonte but he was at the time unaware that would be his last time. The UAE Team Emirates is retiring from pro cycling due to heart issues, it has now been confirmed by the team.

"First of all, I would like to thank the team and all the doctors who helped me in this process. There are many examinations behind me, and the team was on my side and helped me find the answers and make the right decisions," Polanc said in a press release. "Special thanks also go to my family and friends, who were very close to me during this time and supported me throughout my career, both in good times and in bad times."

Polanc has left his mark in the peloton, having won two stages at the Giro d'Italia in 2015 and 2017. In 2019 he led the race for two days after another successful breakaway. He's also been Slovenian time-trial champion in 2017, and the last of his four pro wins came just over a year ago at the 2022 Trofeo Laigueglia. "Of course, this is not the way I wanted to end my cycling career, but when I look back, I am very satisfied and happy. I persisted in professional sports for ten years and was with UAE Emirates from the beginning of my career," he said, referencing of course his years with the former Lampre structure.

"We shared some unforgettable moments with the team, and I hope that I will continue my life path in this family as well. I am looking forward to the future, because at the moment many beautiful things are happening in my life. At the same time, I am grateful for everything I have already achieved."

Over the last years of his career he has also made himself worth as a prime domestique, having been on multiple occasions the most important support for the emerging compatriot Tadej Pogacar who soared through the ranks at UAE. Polanc was key for Pogacar's first Tour de France win in 2020 when the team had entered without a block to support the - at the time - youngster.

"In Jan's case, we sought the advice of our medical team and some of the world's best experts for several months. In the end, the decision was made that for the sake of the competitor's health, the most appropriate end of his career was," team principal Mauro Gianetti added. "At the same time, we are proud that Jan was an important part of our team from the very beginning. We are also proud of our achievements. With the constant expansion of our organization, we will try to find a new role for him in the future."