The World Tour has lost another one of its young riders. At age 24, Lotto - Intermarché rider Robin Orins has called an end to his career, just over a year after turning professional with the Belgian team.
"I’m stepping away from professional cycling," Orins wrote on an Instagram post. "It’s time to turn a page, filled with emotions, memories and lessons, both positive and negative. A page that shaped me into who I’m today, and one that will be talked about for years to come. It ends earlier than expected, but without regrets".
Orins rode for the Team Elevate p/b Home Solutions Soenens in 2022, and in the following two years rode for Lotto's development team. Over this period he consistently proved to be one of the most talented under-23 riders in the world.
He finished on the podium of the under-23 Paris-Roubaix on both years; second on the U23 Liège-Bastogne-Liège; and also had notable results in the time trial events: In 2024 he won the Belgian under-23 national title and finished on the Top5 of both World and European Championships.
"I’ve been on that little bike since I was six, and now I’m 24… Time flies. I went through every category to become a professional cyclist and make a childhood dream come true. I’m proud of my journey. I experienced euphoria and sadness, and built a beautiful collection of memories, moments and trophies".
Robin Orins at the 2026 Ronde van Brugge
Cycling led to mental difficulties
In 2025 he turned pro with the Belgian team, but only rode for the first time in July. Orins had lost joy in cycling, revealing frequent panic attacks, loss of appetite, mental and physical exhaustion. He raced the end of the 2025 season and 2026, but was not able to perform on the expectations that he had first created.
"Cycling was always my outlet. A place where enjoyment came first, even though I could be a sore loser. Giving my best and seeing my parents, grandparents and family smile and share those moments with me was priceless. I enjoyed every pedal stroke".
Orins raced from March to June this year, returning to a regular racing schedule which included multiple World Tour races. His stint as a professional rider ended at the national championships, where he was 13th at the time trial and 43rd in the road race. But his life outside of cycling has become the priority.
"There is nothing more beautiful than turning your hobby into your profession. I proudly signed my first professional contract with Lotto - Intermarché, never thinking it would also be my last. Things changed quickly. I won’t retell that part of my story, but it brought me to a very dark place and made me realize there is more to life than cycling," he shared.
"After months of rebuilding myself, I got back on my feet. But I realized how much energy it had taken and how difficult it was to find the old Robin again. No matter how badly I wanted it, the downs were too frequent".
"This year, I wanted to return happy instead of unhappy. I wanted to enjoy the bike, the people around me, the suffering and, above all, feel fulfilled again. But things didn’t turn out as hoped. No matter how hard I worked, my body said “no”. Now my head and heart are saying “no” too".
Read also
Orins happy with decision to end career
The 24-year old ends his career without regrets, forming part of a worrying trend of young professionals deciding to end their career in the first years of their elite program. The extreme requirements and sacrifices required to be a professional rider take their toll on many.
For Orins, getting out of the loop is a decision that he warmly welcomes. "Honestly, this feels like a breath of fresh air. There is more to life than cycling, and I want to discover that with my girlfriend, friends, parents and family. Cycling will always have a place in my heart. Every scar, trophy, tear and smile has its story".
"This is not the end of my sporting ambitions. As my friends say: 'A fox never loses its tricks'," he concluded. "Thank you to all the people I love".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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