XDS-Astana rider Alexandre Vinokurov has announced his retirement at just 23, saying that he has ridden in fear and pain since a devastating training crash in March.

He was hit by a car while training in Greece and sustained a broken leg. Surgery to fix the break was successful but the incident evidently left Vinokurov – the son of XDS-Astana boss and former pro rider Alexandre Vinokourov – with psychological scars, as well as a degree of lasting physical pain.

His final race was the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia, which finished on Sunday, won overall by Joris Delbove of TotalEnergies. Vinokurov finished 94th. You may like

'The more chaotic a race became, the more brutally I broke down mentally' – pro cyclist retires at 21 over safety concerns after recent deaths

'I can't compete any m

See Full Page