Romain Bardet calls it quits! France to lose another cycling star by summer 2025

Romain Bardet will retire as a professional cyclist in the summer of 2025. The Frenchman of Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL announced through his team that he will hang up his bike after next year's the Critérium du Dauphiné. This means he will start his last Tour de France on June 29.

Bardet, who had an expiring contract with the Dutch team, will still be seen on the road for another half year in 2025. He will ride the Giro d'Italia as his last grand tour. In the second half of next year, he will switch to gravel racing, with the World Championships in Nice as his goal. "He is a figurehead of the sport and a rider that is beloved by fans worldwide," Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL initially announced his one-year contract extension.

However, 2025 will signify the end of the road for the climber, who has been in the professional peloton since 2012 and achieved two podium finishes in the Tour de France with his previous team AG2R, in 2016 and 2017. He accumulated numerous top finishes in major one-day races and won stages in both the Tour and the Vuelta a España. "To those within the team it’s his professionalism, enthusiasm and a genuine true, authentic kindness to his persona that stand out," the team praised.

"I have really enjoyed my time with the team so far so for me, it was a no-brainer to either continue with them or fully end my career. I am very grateful for the relationship I have with all the team members and for the trust that the management is putting in me. I was not really sure if I wanted to continue cycling, but I still feel that I can bring value and keep chasing big results with the team, so I am happy that we are going into another year together to do something a bit special," Bardet said about his decision.

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Bardet explains why he will stop after the Dauphiné

"For me, this is the way I dreamed of finishing my career. I hope to still chase some big victories with the team in 2025," he promises. Bardet wants to win a stage in the Giro, which would give him a stage win in all three grand tours. "I also feel that I want to give back to the team. I will also keep working with the younger riders in the team and help them develop towards their GC goals. The Dauphiné will be my final road race, as it is my favourite race on the calendar. It is really mountainous and close to where I live. These are the roads I used to train on a lot, so there couldn’t be a better place to finish my road career."

The fact that he will then take up gravel racing may come as a small surprise. "It will be a kind of transition for me, but I will do my best in some of the World Cups and hope to also do well in the World Championships in Nice in 2025." Head coach Rudi Kemna is pleased that Bardet will end his career with them. "He is a true professional who always gives his all for the sport and gives energy to those around him. We’ve seen Romain not only perform brilliantly on the bike with us, but he has a passion for helping those around him, and with a voice of wisdom and calmness he helps to guide and mentor the young up-and-coming GC talents within the team. We’re excited that we can continue working with him in his final year on the road and be there to support him as he takes on his new adventure in gravel racing."