"You can't make any plans because you don’t know where you’re going to be in two weeks’ time" - British rider highlights "lack of mental stimulation" as one of the reasons for U23 riders retiring
Cycling
Cycling stars no longer grow steadily in the professional ranks. They are launched from the junior ranks to compete against the best from the get-go... and in the survival of the fittest, the best often turn into leaders by the age of 20. And if you don't secure a coveted spot in one of the top development programmes, the dream of turning pro might as well remain just a dream.
"It’s a simple life: you ride your bike, travel to a race, race your bike, eat chicken, pasta or rice in average hotels around Europe, and it’s quite robotic," Cormac Nisbet goes on and on at Cycling Weekly. "And because of the inflexibility of it all – you can get called up to a race 10 days before – you can’t get a part-time job or study for a degree on the side, as you don’t know where you’re going to be in two weeks’ time."
Nisbet's case made waves in the peloton last year when the young Brit, along with another teammate, suddenly decided to hang up their bikes and pursue careers outside cycling. Then 19-year-old Nisbet quoted two main reasons for his decision; "the danger of the sport increased and lack of mental stimulation".
When Nisbet reflects on his history in the sport, he’s not bitter or regretful. "Without cycling, I’d be a different and weaker person than I am today," he tells Cycling Weekly. "I could sit here and say it’s a hard struggle with no social interaction whatsoever but that wouldn’t be true; cycling as a whole has given me a lot."
"My dream was to be a successful WorldTour rider," he says, "but I came to the conclusion it wasn’t for me once I reached the level I did. It was a tough decision to make, but one door closes and five more open. I have no regrets and am more excited about my future than I was about my cycling career."
There is nothing worse than getting buried in your own dream. To prevent that, he recommends to take things easy from time to time. "My advice is, don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself if the lifestyle isn’t something that you enjoy. Relax, enjoy it, and you’ll naturally discover the career path you want to go down."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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