{"id":297345,"date":"2025-11-21T10:57:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T10:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/297345\/"},"modified":"2025-11-21T10:57:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T10:57:09","slug":"danish-climber-29-decides-to-retire-after-intermarche-wanty-merger-turmoil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/297345\/","title":{"rendered":"Danish climber (29) decides to retire after Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty merger turmoil"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following the merger between Lotto and Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty<\/a>, not everyone was left smiling. Team bosses were pleased to secure their WorldTour future, and the top riders kept their places. But beneath that layer, many staff members and riders were left unsure of what came next<\/a>. On Friday, 29-year-old Lotto rider Jonas Gregaard announced that he will retire from professional cycling.<\/p>\n

Gregaard ends his career after seven seasons in the pro ranks. The Dane turned professional with Astana in 2019 before moving to Uno-X for two years. He then joined Lotto Dstny, but was not offered a new contract for 2025 \u2014 leading him to bring his career to a close, completing a total of 5 grand Tours, the last Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a being one of them.<\/p>\n

On Instagram<\/a>, he explained his decision: ”<\/p>\n

This has been a journey that has taken me through every Grand Tour, across countless roads, and into moments I\u2019ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I\u2019ve been fortunate to experience the highs and lows of this sport together with incredible teammates, staff, colleagues, and competitors who have shaped me both as an athlete and as a person.”<\/p>\n

“To my teammates, staff, and everyone I\u2019ve shared a team bus, a training camp, a suffering climb or a quiet dinner with – thank you. You made this part of my life special. A special thank you to my family and friends. Your support has been the foundation beneath everything. You\u2019ve stood by me through the chaos, the stress, the joy, and the heartbreaks that come with this sport. I\u2019m endlessly grateful.”<\/p>\n

Continue reading below the photo!<\/p>\n

\"jonas-gregaard\"\/Gregaard cites ‘body and mental health’ as reason for quitting<\/p>\n

Professional life was getting tougher to sustain for Gregaard. “Choosing to retire hasn\u2019t been easy, but it\u2019s the right decision for many reasons. My body and my mental health have told me it\u2019s time – and I\u2019ve learned how important it is to listen to that. Cycling demands everything, and right now I need to give something back to myself.”<\/p>\n

The Dane is entering a new adventure – but what it will entail, is still unclear. “Even though I\u2019m closing this chapter, I\u2019m genuinely excited about what comes next. I\u2019m open to conversations, ideas, and opportunities as I look toward the future. If you\u2019d like to talk, explore possibilities or simply connect, I\u2019m always open to it”.<\/p>\n