The World Championships were supposed to be Manuel Quinziato`s final race as a pro, but on the eve of the TTT, the BMC rider called time on his long career. On Monday the Italian will swap bib shorts for a business suit as he takes up a role as a rider agent. Quinziato was down to ride the TTT in Bergen on Sunday, with the aim of closing out his career with a second world title in the event to his name. However, after seeing the 42.5km course in a recon ride, the 37-year-old held up his hand and declared that Tejay van Garderen - the team`s first reserve - should replace him. `I took the decision on Thursday but I thought a lot about it and I feel I took the right decision,` Quinziato told Cyclingnews.ADVERTISEMENT `The best decision for the team was also the best decision for me. I wouldn`t have forgiven myself if I`d stopped the team from having the best line-up. It`s important that I say that the responses I got from friends and on social media, really made me feel nice. People appreciated my honesty.` For Quinziato, who joined BMC Racing in 2010, and helped them win the Tour de France a year later, said the decision to call time on his career came down to three simple factors. `I`m not at 100 per cent,` he said.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
|