“I promised my daughters that I would be a father full time next year.  So I will put an end to my career at the end of this season after fourteen years of pure happiness.  But it’s true that my heart is a little torn since I would have like to participate in one last Tour de France.” 

Jérôme Pineau (35) announced his decision to end his professional cycling career on Saturday morning in Rennes to the journalists gathered in the Village du Tour de France.  His time as a cyclist has been highlighted by four wins and eighteen participations in Grand Tours. 

“I decided in May.  I no longer have the motivation necessary to make so many sacrifices.  To be effective, it is mandatory that you suffer and I do not want to have to do that a whole season.  I can no longer make the necessary efforts, and so it is time to say stop.  Of course, I have a twinge of regret since I would have ideally liked to be able to ride one last Tour de France and then announce the end of my career for the end of the year.”