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Elise Delzenne retires at 28

By Cycling News

published 28 September 2017

Former French champion hangs up the wheels

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Elise Delzenne on the attack at La Madrid Challenge(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Elise Delzenne of France competes in Women's Individual Pusuit Qualifying on Day 4 in 2017 UCI Track Cycling World Championships

Elise Delzenne (Lotto Soudal Ladies) riding Dwars Door Vlaanderen in the spring(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Elise Delzenne (France) at the Bergen Worlds (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Elise Delzenne (Lotto Soudal Ladies)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Elise Delzenne has announced her retirement from cycling at the age of 28. A French national champion on the road and track, Delzenne started her road career with Bourgogne-Pro Dialog in 2013 before moving onto Specialized-Lululemon for two seasons.

Delzenne upsets favourites to win French road race title

Delzenne wins overall title at Trophee d'Or Feminin

Delzenne has spent the last two seasons with the Lotto Soudal Ladies squad, riding a road and track schedule. Her last race came at the World Championships in Bergen where she finished 36th. In 2014, she was part of the French team which helped Pauline Ferrand-Prevot to the rainbow jersey.

The 28-year-old announced her retirement from cycling via her Facebook page, explaining the reasoning behind her decision and new career.

"High-level sport has given me a lot of emotions, disappointment, suffering, and joy and well-being," she wrote. "I met wonderful people, discovered different countries and cultures. It was an amazing experience...

"My choice is reflective and definitive, a new story with different challenges and objectives, and this story is part of the Btwin Women's Road Bike Team that I will be starting as a women's road bike Textile Engineer. It is a real opportunity that is proposed to me."

Before taking up her new role, Delzenne will close out the season and her career at the European Track Championships in Berlin, Germany next month.

During her career, Delzenne won the 2015 Dwars door de Westhoek, a stage of the Festival Elsy Jacobs this year and the 2016 Trophée d'Or Féminin. On the track, she won numerous medals at the national championships and won the Glasgow World Cup Scratch race last year.