28-year-old Kiko Galván, who rode for Equipo Kern Pharma, said he “made a mistake. A mistake has consequences, and I’m paying for them.”
The incident happened on L’Arrabassada, a notoriously dangerous stretch of road in Catalonia.
He added that he is “ashamed of having failed. Of disappointing my parents. My family. My girlfriend, who was the only one who supported me when everything was falling apart.”
Before this controversial video was shared, Galván had one of the best seasons of his career, including coming third at the Grand Prix la Marseillaise in February.
His team were quick to condemn his behaviour, saying in an Instagram comment, “We deeply regret and apologise for an action that does not reflect the values we promote: respect for road safety, which is fundamental to our sport and central to our work both competitively and educationally. We take full responsibility.”
In a longer subsequent statement, the team added, “We will be taking disciplinary measures with the cyclist involved to ensure situations like this are not repeated in the future.”
Galván has not revealed what his plans are, but shared that he’s “not saying goodbye. I’m just pausing. I’m breathing.
“And I’ll keep going, however I can, but with my feet on the ground. Because life doesn’t always let you choose the path, but it does let you choose how you walk it.”
La temeridad de Kiko Galván (ciclista profesional del Kern Pharma) mientras entrenaba en una carretera de Cataluña, que le puede costar muy caro#kikogalvan #equipokernpharma pic.twitter.com/UOeMVhKs43
— Avituallamiento Ciclista (@EVTMO_) October 2, 2025
He has since kept a low profile, saying “I train dressed in black. Not for aesthetics, but because that’s how I feel. And even so, people recognize me, stop me, ask me questions. And I smile, but inside I’m ashamed.”
He added that “I’m not writing this to elicit pity or to justify anything. I made a mistake. A mistake has consequences, and I’m paying for them.
“I apologize to anyone who has been affected. Giving up cycling doesn’t hurt.
“I lived cycling the way I wanted: to the fullest, with my heart, no half measures. What hurts is feeling like you’ve let your loved ones down. That’s the hardest part.”
Kiko Galvan Burgos 2020 (credit: Gomez/CorVos/SWpix.com)
The post also revealed that he had to sell his car after being dismissed from the team.
He said: “This year I had to sell my car after I was kicked off the team. I left the dealership and walked home. That’s when I understood how quickly everything can change.”