Andrew Talansky retires from bike racing at 28

Andrew Talansky – for a time one of the United States’ more significant Grand Tour hopes – has retired from cycling at the age of just 28. He had been with Slipstream Sports, the holding company which owns the Cannondale-Drapac team and which is currently crowdsourcing funding for next season, since turning pro in 2010.

“After a great deal of thought and consideration, it is time to bring down the curtain on my career as a professional cyclist,” said Talansky via social media. “It has been a truly incredible ride.

“I’ll miss my teammates and the camaraderie on and off the bike, but most of all I’m going to miss the fans. Few sports put its fans closer to the action, which is a large part of what makes pro cycling so special. Your support and encouragement, on good days and bad, has meant more to me than I can express. I’ve lived out a dream and I have Slipstream Sports and you, the fans, to thank for that.

“While this is the end of the road for my pro cycling career, it’s also a new beginning to follow my passion, and I look forward to sharing more soon. Until then, on behalf of myself and my family, thanks for seven great years.”

Talansky’s most high profile success was winning the Critérium du Dauphiné in 2014. He also finished 10^th in the 2013 Tour de France and fifth in the Vuelta a Espana last year. He entered this year’s Tour as co-leader, but ended up working in support of eventual runner-up, Rigoberto Uran.

The American, who became a father in February, is likely to have had any thoughts of retirement brought to the fore when all Cannondale-Drapac riders were released from their contractual obligations last month in the wake of sponsorship troubles.

The team has turned to crowdfunding in a bid to fill the hole in its 2018 budget and has so far raised over $500,000.