Tim Declerq criticises recklessness of modern peloton name-dropping Matej Mohoric: "Rides around thinking: 'I don't care if I crash'"

Tim Declercq has brought his long and distinguished professional career to a close. The 36-year-old Belgian announced his retirement after Lidl-Trek, his team since 2024, decided against extending his contract. Initially offered an extension, that plan was later dropped as the sponsor pushed to shake up the roster. For Declercq, who spent much of his career as a loyal domestique after moving from Quick-Step, the decision brings to a close more than a decade in the WorldTour peloton.

Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Declercq admitted the reality hit him during training. "But the intention is definitely to be home more often. That definitely plays a role in the decision to quit. You miss so much. If my daughter is at a dance camp, I'm not at the performance on the last day. And that's something I'll never get back. If you're not a top rider like me, you often have to step in at the last minute for selections. That's difficult for life outside of racing." For him, the balance between family and cycling had tipped too far.

“Cycling is so difficult to combine with family life these days. I love my children to death, but as a father, you're actually at a competitive disadvantage compared to young riders who have no one around them. They move to Andorra and are constantly at altitude. Why wouldn't they? The result is that those guys reach an unprecedented level. I still achieve the same results as in my peak years, but when the average level rises, you still fall behind.”

Another factor was safety. "I no longer dare to take the risks I used to. Danger plays a significant role in my life, and you can't race if you're afraid. I don't want to overstate it, but as an experienced rider, I'm just very aware of how dangerous it all is. As a parent of two children, you see it differently, while I see the opposite with many riders."

He was even prepared to call out those he feels contribute to the risks. "They ride around thinking: 'I don't care if I crash.' Right now, I can afford to name one. Matej Mohoric is a rider who—like everyone else—tries to race as economically as possible. Completely understandable. But he does that by braking as late as possible in the corners, cutting everyone off. That causes crashes. Not his own, but the riders behind him."

Declercq, known as "El Tractor" for his tireless work on the front of the peloton, also reflected on the future. "I've already asked myself: 'Will my children be allowed to race later?' I'm not going to actively encourage them. It's a shame, because cycling is a wonderful sport that teaches you so many valuable things as a person."