Jon Bru ends his career after not getting a contract extension with Euskaltel Euskadi (Image credit: Ainara Hernando)
Jon Bru decided to retire after seven years as a professional cyclist, after his team, Euskaltel Euskadi, did not renew his contract. The 31-year-old rider from Navarra knew he wasn't on his best form the last two years.
"I don't believe that there was a concrete reason, but many parameters. The most important one is that I did not adapt myself to the team, to its form of operation. I put too much pressure on myself, and this did not allow me to perform well", Bru said to the Spanish paper Diario de Navarra. Other reasons for his retirement were the race schedule and his ongoing health problems. "The schedule did not suit me very well and in the last two years I really struggled with my allergies."
Jon Bru turned professional in 2002 and he has five victories in his palmarès. He took the Clásica Seixal in 2002, one stage of the Volta Terras Vedras (2003), the Clásica Bombarral (2004) and two stages of the Volta ao Distrito Santarem in 2006. The first three years he spent in the Portuguese LA Pecol team. Then Oscar Guerrero called him to form part of the team Kaiku, where he rode in 2005 and 2006.
After Kaiku's disappearance, he signed the contract with Euskaltel Euskadi. During the last two years, his performances were not really bad, but also not outstanding. When he knew that his contract would not be renewed, he was looking for another team in Spain or Portugal. not succeed in securing a contract for 2009, so he decided to retire.
Bru has options for a nice future, as he holds a diploma as an industrial engineer, has studied psychology via distance study and has set up a Qi Gong studio in his place of residence. But he will quit cycling a bit angry. "I will end my career with the feeling that I did not give everything I could have been able to give. I am sure that I would have been able to do two more good seasons. I am sad because I always wanted to shine in the Northern classics," Bru said.
His future job could be linked to cycling. He is currently doing a course to become a directeur sportif.(MP)
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