South African climber Louis Meintjes quietly closed the
curtain on his professional career last weekend at Il Lombardia, bringing to an
end 13 years in the peloton. The 33-year-old from Pretoria, a former Vuelta a
España stage winner and national champion, leaves the sport with a mix of pride
and relief, ready to embrace a new chapter as a father.
“The level in the peloton keeps rising, and at some point I
realised I was no longer fighting at the front,” Meintjes said in a statement through
his team. “I was taking risks in dangerous descents just to stay in the middle
of the group – and it didn’t feel the same anymore. That’s why I feel it’s the
right moment to end my career.”
His words carried the calm of someone who had already made
peace with his decision. “My focus is also shifting toward family life. Very
soon I’ll become a father, and I want to dedicate myself fully to that new
role, just like I did throughout my cycling career. I’m really looking forward
to being there for my wife, Laura, and our twin babies on the way.”
For Meintjes, who spent much of his career racing in Europe
far from home, the journey itself was as meaningful as the results. “I’m very
proud that I was able to be a professional cyclist for thirteen years. As a
kid, that was all I ever dreamed about – to be good enough to ride in the pro
peloton,” he said. “I never imagined winning races. Just reaching that level
was already a huge challenge.”
From his early days racing for MTN–Qhubeka to competing on
cycling’s biggest stages with UAE Team Emirates and Intermarché–Wanty, Meintjes
built a reputation as a quiet, consistent climber capable of grinding through
the hardest mountain stages. He recorded multiple top-10 finishes at the Tour
de France and Vuelta before claiming his long-awaited Grand Tour victory in
2022.
“Looking back now, knowing how hard it was to get there and
to stay there for so long, I see it as a big achievement,” he reflected. “I
really had to fight for it – starting from nothing and finding my own way. I
had to grab every single opportunity that came my way, even if it was just a
flat race in the Netherlands.”
Meintjes said the decision to retire had been building all
season. “This season I’ve been thinking a lot about the future – about becoming
a father and about life after cycling. It felt strange to race for the last
time at Il Lombardia last Saturday. To be honest, it will take some time for it
to sink in,” he admitted.
But as one chapter ends, another is already beginning. “For
now, I’ll focus on family life and keep enjoying sport in a different way. Some
friends challenged me to ride the Andorra Epic mountain bike race, and I’ve
also signed up for the Barcelona Semi-Marathon. I’ll take some time to decide
what comes next, but I want to find something new that excites me.”