Wesley Kreder retires following a heart attack at the end of August: "Stopping was the best and wisest solution"

It was a shock for Wesley Kreder when he suddenly suffered a heart attack at the end of August. Fortunately for the 32-year-old Dutchman, his wife was immediately there to administer first aid. The Cofidis rider then thought he would continue as a professional rider, but on the advice of his doctor he is now calling it quits.

"After the heart attack I had, I told myself that I could get back to the high level and race. But my doctor assured me that stopping was the best and wisest solution," says Kreder.

Kreder suffered from myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. To keep the risk of another heart attack as low as possible, he is calling it a day. "I know the sacrifices and level of fitness required to perform at the highest level, but that is not compatible with what I had. The decision was not easy, but when I look at my children and my family, I know I did what had to be done. I've had a good career, I want to remember the positive. I will now spend time with my children and my wife and enjoy life as a family."

What the future will bring is still a mystery to Kreder. He is not thinking about working for the time being. "I want to wait a little longer before I start looking for a job. I hope my story will help people say that the best lesson is that life is too short not to love it. And I will try to take advantage of it too.