The 30 year old Dutch cyclist Thomas Dekker as announced his plans to retire from the sport of cycling, effective immediately. On his personal website he said that he wants to pursue fulfillment outside of his work as an athlete.
"For weeks I've been thinking about it. I have pondered, I've weighed my thoughts carefully, I oversaw the options and considered them one by one. I've listened to my mind and to my heart. Now I have made up my mind. I quit cycling."
"I quit cycling."
"My whole life up to now was dominated by cycling—but I do not want to depend on my form, my equipment, my team, anyone, or anything any longer,” Dekker said. “My cycling career was beautiful, ugly, intense, and edifying. I’m ready for a new step. Without my bike.”
He turned pro in 2005 with Rabobank, he had an impressive performances at the Tour of Poland and Criterium International and he got overall victories at the GP Stad Zottegem, the Tirreno-Adriatico, and the Tour de Romandie. He was banned from the cycling in 2009 for two years when he was caught using performance-enhancing drugs. Dekker returned to cycling after two years and got a spot on the Garmin-Cervelo development team.
