Jurgen Van den Broeck is riding his last season as a professional cyclist. The Belgian rider of Team LottoNL-Jumbo wants to prevent that another year as a cyclist will be ‘too much’. He had a contract until end 2018, but that has been adapted in good consultation. 

The 34-year-old rider from Herentals currently supports Steven Kruijswijk in the Giro d’Italia. The efforts he made to achieve the required level, made him realize that he didn’t want to continue as a cyclist next year. “I listen to my body and heart”, says Van den Broeck. “You can only be a professional cyclist if you go for it one hundred percent. It becomes more and more difficult to achieve that and to be away from home that much.”

Van den Broeck debuted on the highest level in 2004. In his fourteen seasons as a pro, he rode for teams like Discovery Channel, the Belgian Lotto and Katusha. Van den Broeck started in fifteen Grand Tours. On top of that, he achieved a top ten classification in the three different Grand Tours. “I feel at home at Team LottoNL-Jumbo”, stated Van den Broeck. “My current supportive role suited me better over the years. I’m very grateful that the team has thought about what’s the best for me.”

“Jurgen can look back on a beautiful career”, says Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s sportive director Merijn Zeeman. “He can be proud of that. I admire his honesty in this case. We talked a lot and came together to this decision.  His focus remains on the Giro d’Italia and his supporting role in that race. A successful Giro d’Italia will highlight Jurgen’s very last season as a cyclist.”