Verbrugghe annonces plans to retire
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Sep. 17, 2008
Veteran Belgian cyclist Rik Verbrugghe, who rides for Cofidis, announced Wednesday he will retire after next month’s Tour of Lombardy.
Verbrugghe said he had found it difficult to bounce back from a dramatic crash in the 2006 Tour de France, when he broke his leg after careering down a ravine.
“I went through a dark period back then, a difficult reassessment. And even though I returned to the top level, after this incident I started to think of ending my career,” the 34-year-old said Wednesday.
Verbrugghe fell in last month’s San Sebastian Classic, breaking his collarbone.
In 13 years with the peloton he has won three stages in the Giro d’Italia (2001, 2002, 2006), one in the Tour de France (2001), the Tour of Romandie (2002) and the Fleche Wallonne (2001). He is a former Belgian time-trial champion (2000).
The Belgian’s former teams include Lotto and QuickStep.
The Tour of Lomardy will finish on October 18.
FILED UNDER: Road