Former Tour de France mountains jersey winner Anthony Charteau has decided to call an end to his career, with the 34 year oldest to hang up his wheels after contesting the Tour de Vandée on October 6th.
The Frenchman is still at an age when many others continue on, but he cites family reasons as the major factor in his decision.
“Frankly, the idea of stopping has been running through my head since last winter,” he told Ouest France. “I love my sport, but it is beginning to cost me. I feel like I have not seen my children grow up. The pattern of races leaves less chances for riders of my style, the baroudeurs. Finally, I cannot get back to my 2010 level.”
That season was Charteau’s best, with the rider picking up the King of the Mountains jersey in the Tour through a number of attacks. He also took the first in a series of three overall wins in the Tropicale Amissa Bongo race. However although he also won the African event in 2011 and 2012, and took other wins such as a stage in the 2011 Route du Sud and victory this year on stage four of the Tour de Normanie, he’s been less visible.
He also hasn’t competed in the Tour since 2011, when he helped team-mate Thomas Voeckler defend the yellow jersey for much of the race.
Charteau knows that his career has been waning, and wants to go out rather than staying too long. “I want to stop with the memory that I didn’t do one season too much” he explains.
Instead, his goal is to try to do something before bidding farewell. He will ride a number of races including the Grand Prix Ouest France in Plouay, the Tour de l’Ain and the Tour du Poitou Charentes prior to his adieu in the Tour de Vendée, and has a set goal in mind.
“I have two months now to try to make results,” he said. It’s not quite a case of going out on top, but the 2007 Tour de Langkawi winner can certainly sign off in style if he can take a win or two between now and the end of the year.