Dutchman Steven de Jongh will be wearing a race number for the last time in tomorrow’s Giro del Piemonte, bringing an end to a professional career that began with the TVM team in 1995.
Among the highlights of his career were wins in the 2003 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne twice (2004,2008), and a stage the in Driedaagse de Panne-Koksijde. He served as a valuable lieutenant for Belgian star Tom Boonen during his time on the Quick Step team.
“I still don’t feel like my career’s about to end,” explained De Jongh. “It’s just like the sensation I’ve had every year at the end of a season. But every time has its purpose. I’d rather stop while I’m still on top of my game. Yesterday I competed in the Putte Kapellen and I tried to win up to the very last meter. Tomorrow I’m going to try to enjoy the race, even knowing that it’s to be the last one I’ll be riding with a number on my back.”
De Jongh often served as a mentor to young riders on the Quick Step team, and is looking to continue working within the sport. Back in July de Jongh said, “I quit, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be active in cycling anymore. In what kind of function I don’t know yet. I have some time to take a decision about it.”
De Jongh was rumored to be in talks with the new British Team Sky back in August, but no official communication has been made by either side.