{"id":399293,"date":"2026-01-09T23:21:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T23:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/399293\/"},"modified":"2026-01-09T23:21:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T23:21:09","slug":"simon-yates-echoes-bernard-hinault-knowing-when-to-retire-as-a-champion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/399293\/","title":{"rendered":"Simon Yates echoes Bernard Hinault: Knowing when to retire as a champion"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are many times in cycling when riders retire when\u2026well they aren\u2019t at the top of their game. They go from winning races and being unbeatable, to getting dropped. On Thursday, 2025 Giro \u2013 Italia winner Simon Yates announced he would be hanging up the cleats.<\/a><\/p>\n

His Danish DS Jesper M\u00f8rk\u00f8v explained that the choice ultimately came from Yates himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst and foremost, it\u2019s a real shame that he\u2019s stopping,\u201d M\u00f8rk\u00f8v said to Feltet.dk<\/a>, before stressing that the motivation had faded. As he understands it, Yates \u201csimply lost the desire\u201d to continue at the highest level, and that was decisive. Still, he is leaving pro cyclist just six months after a huge win.<\/p>\n

Hinault calls time at 32<\/p>\n

Another Grand Tour champ, Bernard Hinault, one of the greatest cyclists of all time, knew how to make an exit. The legendary French rider always said he would retire at the age of 32, and he did just that, bowing out after a season which saw him pass the Tour de France gauntlet to his American teammate, Greg LeMond. LeMond took his first of three tour wins that year, with Hinault settling for second as well as the mountains jersey.<\/p>\n

The Brittany native had an incredible career. He turned pro in 1975, riding for the Gitane-Campagnolo team, which would morph into Renault\u2013Elf\u2013Gitane. That team would be a powerhouse of cycling, with Hinault mentoring Laurent Fignon and LeMond. In 1985, Hinault formed the La Vie Claire team, where Look clipless pedals would be introduced to the world in that year\u2019s Tour.<\/p>\n

Hinault would also win the Giro three times, the Vuelta twice, the worlds, and several classics including Giro di Lombardia, Paris\u2013Roubaix, La Fl\u00e8che Wallonne, Gent\u2013Wevelgem and
Amstel Gold Race.<\/p>\n

In November of 1986, there was a celebration \u201crace\u201d for Hinault in Quessoy, France. 15,000 people watched the event, as well as a concert and fireworks.<\/p>\n

Hinault finished first, surrounded by his teammates and peers. You can watch the finish below, as the champion is swamped by his supporters in his last pro bike race ever and symbolically hangs up his bike. I mean, that\u2019s a way to say adieu to the sport.<\/p>\n

Un 14-Nov naci\u00f3 y colg\u00f3 la bicicleta el 2\u00ba mejor de todos los tiempos: Bernard Hinault. Como el crack que es hizo literal la expresi\u00f3n de colgar. \ud83d\udcf9 David Dugu\u00e9: pic.twitter.com\/zkA0xTVckc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Pedal Vintage (@PedalVintage) November 14, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n