Cesare Benedetti he will hang up his bike in August. The expert Trentino runner, who became Polish in 2020, chose precisely the Tour of Poland to greet the group. Turned professional in 2010 with the then NetAppa small German continental team that was just born, the 1987-born player followed it in all its evolutions and will therefore end his career with the shirt of Red Bull – Bora – hansgrohe, a reality that is preparing to become a giant on the international cycling scene. 15 years in which Benedetti proved to be a great team man, always devoted to the service of his teammates, while also managing to take great personal joy with the stage success at the 2019 Giro d’Italia, the only victory of his career.
“It seems like yesterday when I met Ralph Denk at the 2009 Mendrisio World Championships – underlines Benedetti, who was also racing as an intern for Liquigas that year – We immediately found an agreement and, 15 years later, I am proud to end my cycling career with the same team. Today I can consider it something very special.”
However, this is not a farewell because from 2025 the Rovereto native will become the team’s Sports Director, mainly taking care of the Under23 team which is currently being created. After retiring, he will therefore immediately go up to the flagship to support his current sporting directors, who in the meantime become his colleagues, getting into the car for some selected races in September and October to prepare for his new role.
“I am ready to face new challenges in a new role, but always within the same great project – comments the man who will turn 37 a few days before his announced retirement – After 25 years in which I woke up every day with the same sporting goals, I feel grateful and blessed to be able to conclude the my adventure as a professional athlete with new goals already in mind. I am sure this is very important for my future and my health in the next chapter of my life. There are still some big goals that I will share with the team as a rider for the rest of 2024, but I already feel very motivated to give my all in my new position to repay the team’s trust.”
