Former American road champion finished after “most difficult season of my career”
Timmy Duggan (Saxo-Tinkoff) announced his retirement from professional cycling on his personal website late Monday, finishing a career that began in 2005. The 31-year-old spent nine years in the pro ranks, coming up to the Garmin organization through its earliest incarnations.
Duggan moved on from Jonathan Vaughters’ team in 2011, spending two years with Liquigas-Cannondale, and then signing with Spidertech-C10 for 2013. He was snapped up by Saxo-Tinkoff when Spidertech folded before the season started. His first race with the Danish squad was the beginning of the end. He crashed and broke his femur during the Santos Tour Down Under, coming back in late April but struggling to make an impact after the injury.
Upon announcing his retirement in a statement on his website, Duggan stated that although he was grateful for his support at Saxo-Tinkoff, the injuries and bad luck had his morale at an extreme low, while also allowing him to recognize the importance of spending time with loved ones.
“After a roller-coaster of thoughts and emotions in recent months, I have decided to retire from professional cycling. I am ready and truly excited to move on to my next goals in life outside of the sport,” Duggan wrote.
“This offseason, while pondering a new team and my situation for the 2014 season, I’ve had time to reflect, to think, and to live. During the extended period of time that it was taking for a verbal agreement I had with Team Cannondale to materialize, I was able to spend more time with my wife, family, friends, and community than I have in my whole career. I really thought about and FELT my life outside of cycling more than I ever have. I felt ALIVE again. It has become clear how important some other things are to me and how much I’m missing.
“This decision has been coming for a while. The 2013 season was probably the most difficult of my career, dealing with a devastating broken leg throughout the year. In the ambulance to the hospital with my season-threatening injury, I began to question if this was worth it anymore. Despite plenty of support and being surrounded by incredible teammates and team staff at Saxo-Tinkoff, I hated nearly every day of the season. I was miserable and depressed. It is incredibly frustrating as an athlete to not be able to be at your best, and, even worse, I wasn’t sure if I really wanted it any more.”
Duggan got his start with the developmental squad Team TIAA-CREF in 2005, and eventually stayed on as it morphed into Slipstream and Garmin. A career highlight occurred in 2009, when he finished second on stage eight of the Critérium du Dauphiné, losing out in a tight sprint to Rabobank’s Stef Clement.
His biggest win was in 2012, when he soloed to the American road race title, an emotional victory for Duggan, everyone involved, and simply everyone watching. Duggan also finished 88th that year in the London Olympic road race.
The American stressed the ups and downs of the life as a professional cyclist, but with more downs recently, Duggan feels he is leaving at the right time.
“Cycling has given me a lot, but it has also taken a lot away. I wouldn’t trade my experiences, accomplishments, and relationships I’ve had in cycling for anything, but the injuries, the time away from home, and the sacrifice of so much to ride a bike faster are weighing heavy,” Duggan admitted. “At this point in my career, even when things are going very well, racing bikes is not making me truly happy. It doesn’t excite me like it used to. When I was thinking about the 2014 season, I couldn’t see myself being happy enough, regardless of the situation.
“The other things I want to do in my life excite me far more and make me happier. So I’ve made the decision to stop working on the 2014 season and start moving towards my next phase in my life. I am extremely satisfied with everything I’ve accomplished in this sport. In a career highlighted by a national championship, a WorldTour stage podium, and an Olympic berth, there is not much I truly need to prove to myself anymore.”
Duggan said he is looking forward to spending more time with friends and family, as well as increasing his presence in his Boulder, Colorado community. He will pursue a real estate license to become involved in the family business, as well as coach a local alpine ski racing team.
“Cycling gave me goals and the opportunity to accomplish them, and the journey along that whole process has shaped me, and for that I am very proud,” Duggan concludes. “But cycling certainly doesn’t define me, and it’s not who I want to be anymore. Already I feel so incredibly alive as I move forward into my next ambitions.
“Thank you to the countless people who have supported, mentored, cheered, laughed, cried, pushed, and celebrated with me during my career. This wouldn’t have been possible without you!”