¡Adiós!

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I like these parades through the spinning wheels, but they are suddenly being treated as a noble and ancient tradition: I don't think I had ever seen it before Simon Greschke's last race a year ago. Certainly such notable retirements as Valverde and Nibali simultaneously calling it a day at Lombardia 2022, celebrated at the start, did not see this.

What's the origins? Is it really an honoured historical rite?
 
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Sep 20, 2017
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After two-and-a-half absolutely torrid years with one major injury after the other, Geoffrey Bouchard calls it quits. His last race was in Luxembourg, where he crashed out with a broken collarbone, to add to the broken scaphoid that cost him his 2023 Tour participation, the 2023 Vuelta crash that kept him out of action for most of 2024 and multiple broken bones in the same crash that took out Landa at the Giro this year.
 
May 6, 2021
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Paco has retired.

He was there when Armstrong won his first Tour, when Frank won Liege.

He recently raced against Pablo Torres

Stuck around just for the love of the game.

G3Gjvw3a4AA9ula
 
Jun 24, 2015
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After two-and-a-half absolutely torrid years with one major injury after the other, Geoffrey Bouchard calls it quits. His last race was in Luxembourg, where he crashed out with a broken collarbone, to add to the broken scaphoid that cost him his 2023 Tour participation, the 2023 Vuelta crash that kept him out of action for most of 2024 and multiple broken bones in the same crash that took out Landa at the Giro this year.
My man won 2 KoM jerseys with just a single top10 result over both GT's.

/salute
 
Oct 2, 2023
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Kind of crazy how many guys are bowing out this season within 10 wins of 100 all-time.

Kristoff (98)
Demare (97)
Viviani (90)

Only 36 riders ever have 90+ pro wins and 3/5 of the active riders who have hit that mark are retiring at the end of this season.

With these guys gone...

Tadej Pogacar (108)
Primoz Roglic (91)
Dylan Groenewegen (77)
Sam Bennett (71)

are the only four active riders with over 70 pro wins. Evanepoel is 5th with 67.
 
May 6, 2021
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Costa's last big win was a masterpiece (Vuelta stage 15), the man did nothing that day, beating Remco/Buitrago/Kamna at 36 from the break. I got the impression he wasn't even too bothered about the stage, just wanted to troll everyone for the love of it. What was just as brilliant was how salty Dan Lloyd seemed after the stage discussing it.

 
Apr 30, 2011
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Costa's last big win was a masterpiece (Vuelta stage 15), the man did nothing that day, beating Remco/Buitrago/Kamna at 36 from the break. I got the impression he wasn't even too bothered about the stage, just wanted to troll everyone for the love of it. What was just as brilliant was how salty Dan Lloyd seemed after the stage discussing it.

Truest racer since Vino.
 
Mar 6, 2009
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He has raced really hard this last year, didn't get the result he wanted but attacking and multiple breakaway attempts. He is an excellent bike racer, hard worker.
Something I will never understand is how guys like Rui Costa or Gerrans will get flak for wheelsucking, yet sprinters are celebrated for doing far, far less than those examples. Zero logic.
 
Sep 5, 2016
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Something I will never understand is how guys like Rui Costa or Gerrans will get flak for wheelsucking, yet sprinters are celebrated for doing far, far less than those examples. Zero logic.
I especially appreciate as Rui Costa neared his 100th birthday he still finds a way to get in the mix! He had podiums in his final year and Tour of Austria he went hard charging and went for a decent solo break before blowing up, style points. I like the guy. From San Diego story time, Rui was also a pleasant person to Chris Horner while they raced together at Lampre. Rui is a survivor..
It appears that Michael Matthews will avoid the adios thread for not 1 but 2 more years!!!!!!
 
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