Retirement beckons for the oldest rider in the WorldTour…but not quite yet
He’s already hinted it, and now it’s been made official; Jens Voigt will join the new Trek WorldTour team in 2014, riding one final year in the peloton before finally hanging up his wheels and retiring from the sport.
Already the oldest rider in the WorldTour, Voigt still has the energy to compete at the top level for one more year and is determined to do what he can to go out on a high.
“I’m glad Trek and I got to an agreement for 2014. It’s been three crazy years for me on Trek, with a lot of highlights, and I’m happy that we can go on for another year,” said Voigt, who will turn 42 years of age on September 17th.
He’s spoken of retirement before and has changed his mind but, from the sound of things, an era is drawing to a close. But not just yet. “Looking at the young kids: I see the future. They are ready to spread their wings,” he said. “But maybe I can close one more gap for them, or teach them something from my years of experience. I feel I still have some gas left in the tank, so I can’t wait for what’s coming!”
Voigt has been riding for the American frame manufacturer for the past three years, or rather aboard their machines. He moved from Team Saxo Bank to Leopard in 2011, then remained part of the setup when that squad merged with RadioShack in 2012.
He then competed this season with the RadioShack Leopard squad. Its WorldTour licence has been sold by holding company Leopard SA to Trek for 2014, and he, the Schleck brothers and Fabian Cancellara will transfer across to the new team over the winter.
Voigt is one of the most celebrated riders in the peloton, with his aggression, determination and character appealing to many fans. They will be pleased that he is continuing for another season, and so too Trek itself.
“There has seldom been a foot soldier like Jens Voigt, he is the ultimate hardman,” said the company’s vice president Joe Vadeboncoeur. “He attacks, he works like a dog, he crashes – and he gets up and does it all again the next day. Trek is honored to have Jens finish his career here.”
Since turning pro in 1997, Voigt has taken some major wins during his career, including a record five editions of the Critérium International, two editions of the Deutschland Tour and Bayern Rundfahrt, the Tour of Poland, the Grand Prix des Nations, a stage of the Giro d’Italia plus two in the Tour de France.
He’s also gained a lot of plaudits for his aggressive, caution to the wind style of racing.
While he doesn’t win as often as he used to, he continues to attack regardless, and plays a part in shaping many races. He picked up a stage of the Tour of California earlier this year and also earned the most combative rider award on the final mountain stage of this year’s Tour de France.
Although he has suggested that he might not do the Tour again, he is sure to employ his caution-to-the-wind style of racing in many events next season. Before then, he’ll line out in the USA Pro Championship in the days ahead, trying to repeat his stage victory of last year. He also took the King of the Mountains award in the same race.