Speaking in the wake of Russian media sources which said this week that Denis Menchov was retiring with immediate effect from the sport, the Katusha team has confirmed that the triple Grand Tour winner was walking away.
The 35 year old had been due to compete for the rest of the season with the squad and had performed well early on, netting fourth in the Volta ao Algarve, plus second on a stage and fourteenth overall in Paris-Nice.
“Russian Katusha Team rider Denis Menchov has announced early retirement from professional cycling. The reason of the rider’s decision is the knee problem which doesn’t allow him to get a normal preparation for participation in the most important races of the season,” stated the team via its website.
“The 2013 contract of Denis Menchov was terminated by the mutual agreement of Katusha Team management and the rider.”
Menchov had hoped to ride the Tour of Italy and told Russian media that missing the race was a deciding factor in his decision.
“Winning the Giro was no doubt the pinnacle of my career,” he told R-Sport earlier this week. “This year I couldn't take part in the Giro because of the injury. The Giro was my main goal for this season, and I understood it was time to end my sporting career.”
Given his sudden retirement plus the recent statement by the WorldTour rider writing for Cyclingtips.com under the pseudonym The Secret Pro that a former Grand Tour winner was facing a bio passport case, there had been some speculation that Menchov’s decision to walk away might have been for other reasons.
However when contacted by VeloNation, a UCI spokesperson appeared to dismiss any suggestions of a positive case. “Currently there is no disciplinary procedure open on the basis of the biological passport,” stated UCI Communications Manager Devra Pitt Gétaz, referring to the Russian.
Menchov won the Vuelta a España in 2005 and 2007, plus the Giro d’Italia in 2009. He was also second and third in the Tour de France.