Seigneur calls time

After finishing the last stage of the Tour de la Somme, French veteran and four-time French national time trial champion Eddy Seigneur has decided to call it a day. "It was not an easy decision to take," said Seigneur. "But it was necessary. I have 14 pro seasons behind me. It had to come to an end one day or other, and this was a personal decision based on personal choice - I remained motivated from start to finish of my pro career."

Seigneur rode for the RAGT Semences team in 2005 and during his career the 36-year-old rode all three Grand Tours, was French road race champion in 1995, and French time trial champion in 1996, 2002, 2003 and 2004. He always rode from French teams, including Gan, Francaise des Jeux and Jean Delatour.

Seigneur doesn't intend on quitting cycling completely, though. "I can't ever imagine stopping cycling altogether," he said. "Cycling is for life."

While he plans to stay active, his professional involvement may see him switch from wheels to keyboard. "I'd like to stay in sport; in cycling of course," he said. "I wouldn't say no to other propositions either. I'm ruling nothing out for the moment. I'm going to give myself a year to get used to my new responsibilities. I'm pretty attracted by the idea of working for the written sports press. I've already made one or two moves in that direction."