It was a busy Friday in the cycling world with Tour de France lineup announcements and National Championships in full swing. So much so that you may have missed the news about two long-time pros hanging up their bikes at the end of this season. Ramon Sinkeldam and Niccolò Bonifazio together racked up a total of 28 victories - a record that deserves at least a mentioning.
The 35-year-old Sinkeldam tried to break through as a sprinter in the early years of his professional career, winning handful of smaller races. His best success arguably came in 2017 when Sinkeldam claimed the Dutch road title. In recent years, we have seen Sinkeldam mostly in a leadout role for Alpecin-Deceuninck's successful sprinters.
"All good things come to an end. At the end of the 2024 season I will end my career as a professional road cyclist. After 13 wonderful years it is time for something different, more time with the family, a different lifestyle. Thank you to everyone who supported me," he said in X post.
Bonifazio ends his career with even more impressive 21 victories, often a bit under the radar in exotic countries like Gabon, China or Japan. But Bonifazio also has success in Europe, winning a Paris-Nice stage in 2020. But many cycling fans will remember the 30-year-old Italian for his devilish descent from Cipressa at the 2019 Milano-Sanremo.
Also Bonifazio confirmed his retirement on social sites. "Just as everything has a beginning, everything has an end. I thank the teams, the sponsors, the people and opponents I met on this crazy journey who gave me the motivation to always try to surpass myself and evolve."
"I have realized the dreams I had as a child. It's time to explore new avenues and seek new emotions. I thank everyone for the support and cheering on the streets."
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