French sprinter Nacer Bouhanni (Arkéa-Samsic), French champion in 2012, handicapped by injuries, announced Monday on his Instagram account the end of his sporting career at the age of 33, including 12 spent among professionals.
“Dear friends, loved ones, supporters, I announce my retirement after 27 years of cycling (…). I have been thinking carefully about this decision for several months. I started cycling at the age of 6, it very quickly became a great passion,” he wrote on the social network.
“Seventy victories, ups, downs, beautiful and less beautiful encounters, joys, disappointments, but I will only keep the best,” continues the native of Epinal.
“After my serious accident last year which cost me a serious cervical fracture and a very long rehabilitation, I had become a shadow of myself,” he adds: “I fought body and soul to try to regain my level in vain. Life has decided otherwise”.
Bouhanni has a total of 70 victories on the circuit, culminating in the title of French road champion in 2012.
Trained by the FDJ and passed through Cofidis, the native of Epinal also distinguished himself with six stage victories on the Grand Tours: three on the Vuelta and as many on the Giro. He also showed his power and speed on the Critérium du Dauphine, where he achieved three stage successes or on Paris-Nice (also 3 stages). On the other hand, he has never managed to win on a stage of the Tour de France in four participations.