Peter Velits has announced that he will quit cycling as he has no team for 2017. Since 2014, the 31-year-old Slovakian has been riding for BMC.
Velits turned pro in 2008 with Milram, after his U23 World Championships victory. He raced with HTC-Columbia and Omega Pharma-Quick Step before signing for BMC Racing Team in 2014.
“It was coming. For two years, I’ve not been at my best. Since the operation of an artery in my leg in the spring of last year, I have not achieved any good results,” he told Sportky.
“My season started in January and the first race block lasted until the Tour de Romandie. The team then suddenly told that it would be good for me to look for another team. That surprised me.
“My managers then went looking for a new team. They did what they could by talking to Trek-Segafredo, FDJ and Bahrain Merida among others, but there was no interest. Maybe people think I feel frustrated and am disappointed. That’s not how I feel. I just look forward to the next phase. “
In 2010, Velits won a stage of the Vuelta a Espana, before finishing second overall behind Vincenzo Nibali, becoming the first Slovakian cyclist to finish on the podium of a Grand Tour.
