Paolo Savoldelli, winner of the 2002 and 2005 Giro d'Italia, has decided to put an end to his career after this season. The Gazzetta dello Sport broke the news on Friday. The 35 year-old explained that he wanted to retire because "I started riding at 8 years old, and racing at 14, and I continued going, having fun, and suffering as well – but being satisfied with the suffering. As if the suffering was a rule. However, today I do all of this with some thoughts in mind. And the those thoughts weigh heavily, above all when I'm on the bike."
The climber and awesome descender nicknamed "Il Falco" ("The Falcon") also won stage at the Tour de France, in 2005, while he was racing for Discovery Channel. Savoldelli is currently with Italian team LPR Brakes, and will ride the Tour of Austria next. "I hope for a beautiful end of season," he added. "Maybe with the time trial Worlds, which I have never done. It could be nice to end my career as a debutant."
![BLOCKHAUS, ITALY - MAY 15: (L-R) Ben O'Connor of Australia and Team {"type":"articleBuilderTags","tags":[{"url":"/tag/image/jai-hindley","indexed":false,"dateModified":1777302880000,"dateCreated":1580958069000,"site":"cyclingnews","type":"image","slug":"jai-hindley","name":"Jai Hindley","alternateNames":[],"id":"8sXQPCfohunqAQcf8ndnBk","abbreviation":"","lifecycle":[],"relatedFreeformTags":[]},{"url":"/tag/image/giro-d-italia-2026","indexed":false,"dateModified":1776875875000,"dateCreated":1764501544000,"site":"cyclingnews","type":"image","slug":"giro-d-italia-2026","name":"Giro d'Italia 2026","alternateNames":[],"id":"rrkf3wKvASrYFoLMHwTyNK","abbreviation":"","lifecycle":[],"relatedFreeformTags":[]},{"url":"/tag/image/ben-oconnor","indexed":false,"dateModified":1777538073000,"dateCreated":1567254952000,"site":"cyclingnews","type":"image","slug":"ben-oconnor","name":"ben o'connor","alternateNames":[],"id":"rxxUSXKo6UevYXVYYmaFch","abbreviation":"","lifecycle":[],"relatedFreeformTags":[]}],"site":"cyclingnews","tagsType":"image"}nsgrohe compete during the 109th Giro d'Italia 2026, Stage 7 a 244km stage from Formia to Blockhaus 1658m / #UCIWT / on May 15, 2026 in Blockhaus, Italy. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kPnrx65muXYLXjC7D65meZ-1280-80.jpg.webp)