Struck by heart troubles, 26-year-old cycling enthusiast is compelled to abandon his aspirations in the sport
In a heart-wrenching announcement, Dutch professional cyclist Lars van den Berg has decided to retire from the sport at the age of 26, citing heart problems as the reason for his sudden departure.
Van den Berg, a pillar of the Groupama-FDJ team and a great person according to team boss Marc Madiot, last raced at the Faun-Ardèche Classic in February. His best result was a second-place finish on a stage of La Route d'Occitanie in 2023.
The cyclist, who was due to start his fifth season with Groupama-FDJ, revealed in an Instagram post that 'my worst nightmare has become reality: after a year of recovery and hard work, I've been forced to retire from professional cycling.' He expressed his gratitude for being healthy and fighting his way back into good shape, but also shared his struggles with accepting his retirement.
Extensive monitoring by cardiologists determined that the risks of continuing racing were 'too great.' Van den Berg's retirement comes amidst a growing trend of athletes retiring due to heart issues. Sonny Colbrelli, winner of Paris-Roubaix in 2021, and Anna Shackley, who ended her racing career at the age of 22 due to cardiac arrhythmia, are among those who have faced similar challenges.
Madiot, who considers health as the absolute priority, expressed his pride in sharing the journey with Lars van den Berg. The new team manager for Van den Berg, who is forced to end his career due to heart problems, is not specified in the available search results.
Van den Berg, who raced the Tour de France in 2023 and the Giro d'Italia twice, plans to spend time with the people who matter most to him. He intends to set new goals and pour all his energy into reaching them.
As he bids farewell to the world of professional cycling, Van den Berg thanked everyone who has supported him through 20 years of cycling, especially during the toughest moments of the past year. His younger brother Marijn, a pro cyclist for EF Education-EasyPost, was among those who offered words of support and encouragement.
In a touching gesture, Madiot considers health as the absolute priority and wishes Van den Berg all the best in his future endeavours. Van den Berg, for his part, expressed his gratitude for the support he has received and promised to keep his followers updated on his next chapter.
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