Alpecin-Deceuninck rider with Visma training says goodbye to the WorldTour: "Not the path I want to follow"
CyclingTuesday, 05 November 2024 at 19:20
Alpecin-Deceuninck will go into the next season with two German riders, instead of the four the team had in 2024. After Jason Osborne — who is returning to e-cycling — Maurice Ballerstedt has also decided to leave the WorldTour, despite a few strong years with the team of the Roodhooft brothers.
The Berlin-born Ballerstedt received his training with the Jumbo-Visma development team in 2020 and 2021, where he caught the attention of Alpecin-Deceuninck. In 2019, he impressively finished second in the Peace Race and took second place at the European Junior Championships, while a stage win and overall victory in the Tour du Pays Montbéliard were his best results in his final year as a U23 rider with the Dutch team.
At Alpecin-Deceuninck, he became an important part of the sprint train for Kaden Groves over his three seasons there, although he still managed to achieve some individual results. For example, he participated in the Vuelta the past two years, where he finished sixth in a stage in 2023. This season, he also placed second in the bunch sprint at the Tour of Limburg, finishing between top sprinters Dylan Groenewegen and Arnaud De Lie.
Read more below the photo.
WorldTour not the path Ballerstedt wants to follow
Despite this, Ballerstedt decided to leave the WorldTour. "After much consideration, I decided for myself that the WorldTour is not the path I would like to follow," the 23-year-old German announced on social media. "Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this amazing journey. Starting in 2025, I will be taking on a new chapter in cycling, racing, and bringing you along on the journey," said Ballerstedt, who has not yet revealed what he will do next.
He rode his last race kilometers for the Belgian team in the Sparkassen Münsterland Giro on October 3, a few weeks after completing his second Vuelta.
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024