Vanmarcke steps back from cycling and quits as team leader: "Spend more time with family"
Cycling
Sep Vanmarcke will step back from cycling. The 36-year-old Belgian was a team leader for Israel-Premier Tech this past season, after being forced to retire as a cyclist due to heart problems. Now he wants to spend more time with his family, among other things.
He announced this on the website of the Israeli team. "The past one and a half years have been a roller coaster," he says. "I jumped from being a pro rider to a sports director after I was diagnosed with heart problems and having to stop in this way had always been something difficult to accept. I tried to be the best DS I could be but, in my head, I need space so I feel the need to slow down for a while, spend some time with my family and find new goals in life."
"I have therefore made the difficult decision to leave my current position at Israel-Premier Tech. I am very thankful for the chances the team gave me, and even more, I appreciate the understanding they have with my current situation and decision. I will always support the team and wish everyone the best for the 2025 season. Cycling will always be a big part of my life so I look forward to cheering from the sidelines for now," Vanmarcke concludes.
Read more below the photo!
With a strong roster (but without Vanmarcke) in search of success in 2025
General manager Kjell Karlström regrets the departure of his protégé but fully supports the decision. "Sep was a great rider and a brilliant sports director so we are sad to see him go but we have the utmost of respect for his decision, knowing that it takes a lot of courage to step away from the world that has been his life for the last decades. I can say with certainty that the door will always be open for Sep to return to IPT as a sports director should he decide this is the right move for him. We wish Sep all the best with his future endeavours and have no doubt that Sep will remain close with his IPT family."
The departure is painful for the Israeli team, but they can continue building on a strong roster. The 30-man team has been officially announced for the upcoming season. They will welcome four new riders: Jan Hirt and Alexey Lutsenko will strengthen the climbing team, while Frenchman Mathis Louvel will be valuable in the sprint train and the classics. Canadian Pier-André Côté joins from the development team, having already made several appearances for the squad in 2024 and proving his worth in short stage races and classics. With contract renewals for Jakob Fuglsang, Marco Frigo and Corbin Strong, Israel-Premier Tech can continue building after a very strong season.
Read also
Il Lombardia 2024
The Pogacar effect: How Tadej has shaped the career of Matthews in a crucial way
Can Decathlon AG2R's big budget strike back against the 'Big Four' this spring?
Red Bull spreads its wings further in cycling: Cancellara secures brand for Tudor Pro Cycling
So that's why Van Gils left: Lotto-Dstny skips Giro, downsizes team and needs a more miracle year
The 2025 Giro is set for a showdown: Roglič faces fierce rivals - two big names confirmed
Latest Cycling News
The Pogacar effect: How Tadej has shaped the career of Matthews in a crucial way
Can Decathlon AG2R's big budget strike back against the 'Big Four' this spring?
Red Bull spreads its wings further in cycling: Cancellara secures brand for Tudor Pro Cycling
So that's why Van Gils left: Lotto-Dstny skips Giro, downsizes team and needs a more miracle year
The 2025 Giro is set for a showdown: Roglič faces fierce rivals - two big names confirmed
Popular Cycling News
🎥 Armstrong hits back at Jake Paul: "I’ve gotten so many questions about this little b*tch Jake Paul"
Meanwhile in the peloton | Beautiful footage of Visma training camp, Cavendish receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Cycling kits 2025: New sponsors, new colors for Picnic-PostNL, Jayco-AlUla, and UAE
Roglic on a mission to find "best possible Primoz", lets go of obsessive Red Bull role: "It was driving me crazy"
Aerts calls himself a 'Neo-pro' and looks ahead to facing "those two rascals," Wout van Aert and Mathieu Van der Poel: "Not delusional to think I'll beat them"
Latest Comments
- I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- 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