¡Adiós!

[RedheadDane]

Gregaard retires, stating that his body and mental health tells him it's time to stop.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Esteban Chaves smiles goodbye.

View: https://youtu.be/rnta4nmfAKI?si=9LRGANIKKXLIeeVp

 

[YavorD]

Esteban Chaves smiles goodbye.

View: https://youtu.be/rnta4nmfAKI?si=9LRGANIKKXLIeeVp

Always had a soft spot for him.
Will be missed.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Esteban has been one of my favourite riders for many years. Infact outside patriotic support of my home riders he has always been the guy I cheer on. Inevitable I guess, but his retiring sort of makes me sad.
He has had a great career despite having to overcome a number of adversities including serious injury and death of a close confident.
Who can forget his leading the Giro in 2015 and winning Lombardy.

 

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[proffate]

The likes of Rui Costa rely on their own individual talents and skills(even if not always admirable) to create the opportunities to win, the Sprinters rely entirely on the teams to create opportunities and get far more of them. I don't see how relying on a team to win is more laudable than an individual win by a "smart" rider.

I think one key difference is that sprinters usually still have to beat a lot of riders head to head. They are rarely the only one who sat in the wheels, so there's a "fair" test of strength against other "wheel suckers" at the very end, if only for 250m.

I don't think Rui relied on his skills, he instead took advantage of opponents' desperation. And never in his life did he ride in service of a teammate to my memory. So I think it has to do with perceived attitude -- selfish. I never really had a problem with Gerrans. Canc should have engaged in more brinksmanship at that MSR (and at many other races over his career).