Dekker calls premature end to career to become Rabobank director

Erik Dekker (Rabobank) has called time on his career after failing to recover from injuries sustained on stage 4 of the Tour, he announced at a news conference in Zwolle, The Netherlands, yesterday. The 'Gouden Pijl' criterium, raced later today in Emmen, will be Dekker's last race. Dekker had planned to retire at the end of the season.

Dekker said that his injuries also made it difficult to find the motivation to return to the top level, "Besides the obvious physical injuries I sustained, it mainly became a mental struggle. I could not find the strength and will to continue on for just a couple more months. Whatever I do, I always want to give hundred percent, but my motivation was gone. There was nothing inside me that told me to continue," Dekker said.

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