Jimmy Casper retires after failing to find a team for 2013
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Dec. 21, 2012
PARIS (VN) — French sprinter Jimmy Casper announced Friday that he would retire after failing to find a team for the 2013 season.
“Retired in spite of myself,” the 34-year-old wrote in a statement sent to AFP. “I am compelled and forced to put an end to my career as a professional cyclist.”
Casper notched 61 wins since his professional debut in 1998, including a stage win in the 2006 Tour de France. He won at least once every year until 2012, after which AG2R La Mondiale decided not to offer him a new contract.
His other teams included La Française des Jeux (1998-2003), Cofidis (2004-06), Unibet.com (2007), Agritubel (2008) Besson-Sojasun (2009), and Saur-Sojasun (2010-11).
In 2008, Casper tested positive for a corticosteroid during the Tour and Agritubel benched him. He successfully argued that the issue involved a paperwork issue regarding a long-held therapeutic-use exemption for asthma medication and resumed racing.
FILED UNDER: News / Road TAGS: Ag2r-La Mondiale / Jimmy Casper