German pair hang up their wheels at 24 and 34 respectively
Martin Salmon (Team DSM) competes during the 11th Primus Classic 2021(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
Two WorldTour riders, Martin Salmon and Christoph Pfingsten, have called an early end to their careers after finding themselves without a team for 2022.
The German pair did not have their contracts renewed at Team DSM and Jumbo-Visma, respectively, and were unable to find satisfactory options elsewhere.
Salmon has taken the decision to retire at the age of just 24 and after just two seasons in the professional peloton. The climber came through DSM's development system before graduating to the WorldTour squad in 2020. He rode the Vuelta a España in a pandemic-hit debut season but struggled to make much of an impact in 2021.
After the new year signalled the official end of his time at DSM, Salmon announced his decision to walk away from the sport at the weekend.
"As far as I know 'biker' was one of my first words. The pant wetting excitement of standing beside a bike race has remained unchanged for the past 24 years," he said.
"The joy of propelling yourself forward on two wheels equally, though the ecstasy of a finish line might have clouded that joy with ambition. I have been privileged to call this simple act of motion my profession and I now resign myself to the title of a has been."
The same fate has befallen Pfingsten, although he is 10 years Salmon's senior. The all-rounder, who started out in cyclo-cross, has ridden as a domestique at Jumbo-Visma for the past two seasons, prior to which he spent five years at Bora-Hansgrohe.
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Although he expressed disappointment at being forced to hang up his wheels earlier than expected, Pfingsten looked back fondly on his career in a retirement announcement, picking out his German 'cross title from 2012 and his fourth place on a stage of the 2018 Giro d'Italia as highlights.
"Today is the day that almost all competitive athletes fear. Because then it's time to say goodbye. After 25 years of competitive sport, an end has come, which I will have with one laughing and one crying eye," he said.
"Weeping because I didn't really want to quit, but unfortunately no new contract was concluded due to various factors. A laughing one, because I can look back on some great moments.
"First and foremost, I would like to thank my wife Gini in particular, who has been by my side for years, but also my entire family, relatives, acquaintances, companions, sponsors and anyone I have forgotten to say THANK YOU for all of you having a share that I have been able to practice this sport for so many years. I was allowed to travel to countries that I would probably never have seen in 'normal' life, I was allowed to get to know special people all over the world and I was able to experience great impressions of food and drink."
Pfingsten hinted that, while his racing days are over, he could remain involved in cycling in the next chapter of his career.
"My father always says: if one door closes, another will open. And who knows where I'm going," he said.
"Maybe I will stay with the sport in some way. Until then, I wish you all a happy new year, stay tuned to see what I'll be posting here soon."
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Patrick is a freelance sports writer and editor. He’s an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor’s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish). Patrick worked full-time at Cyclingnews for eight years between 2015 and 2023, latterly as Deputy Editor.
