Last Sunday Karsten Kroon ended his career in the Japan Cup. The Dutchman reflects on a long career and describes his Tour de France stage win as the highlight of his time as a professional bike rider.

A household name in cycling takes a bow and retires definitively from his active career. Karsten Kroon has had a career covering three decades. He turned pro in 1997 and has spent seven seasons with Tinkoff-Saxo. Kroon rode his last race in Sunday’s Japan Cup and after returning home, he confirms that it was the right decision.
 
“I feel fortunate. I have had a great career with many defining memories. I have made many close friends in cycling, and that is something valuable for me. But I can honestly say that I’m ready to retire from racing. I’m tired after 18 seasons and I look forward to spending time with my family and kids”, says Karsten Kroon and adds:
 
“I want to thank Bjarne Riis for believing in me during the years and giving me the opportunity to spend the best seasons of my career on this team. My two seasons on BMC in ’10 and ’11 were plagued by two potentially career-ending crashes, but the team gave me another chance to come back and to finish my career the way I had wished for”.
 
The biggest moments
The 38-year old Dutchman rode his first season in what is now the WorldTour in 1999. He steadily evolved into an experienced specialist in the northern classics. In 2002, in his first Tour de France, Karsten Kroon won a stage. A victory that he describes as his biggest sporting moment.
 
“My stage win in the Tour is what I’m most proud of. It is something every rider dreams about. It was my first Tour de France and I remember how surreal it seemed, when I rode across the line”.
 
But there’s also another less known result that stands as the pinnacle of Karsten Kroon’s career.
 
“It might sound a bit strange, but the 2009 World Championship in Mendrisio is perhaps the greatest experience of my career. I was dropped in the final part of the race and finished 20th, but I have never had better legs than I had that day in Switzerland. It was almost mythical for me. I remember that I felt as if I could keep going on my limit for hours and hours”, he explains.
 
According to Karsten, he hasn’t decided on his future yet. But one thing is for sure; he will take some time off from racing, training and speculating.
 
“I think I’ll relax with my family and wait a while before I decide, what the next chapter in my life will be”.