Tristan Hoffman celebrated the end of his professional career as a cyclist at a criterium at his birthplace in Groenlo, The Netherlands on Sunday. Hoffman rode the race, but halfway through he pulled out and got into the CSC team car, as he is now serving as team director. His compatriot Max van Heeswijk won the race ahead of Andy Schleck (CSC) and Thomas Dekker (Rabobank). Rudie Kemna, Bart Voskamp and Rolf Aldag also rode their last pro races in Groenlo. "This is unbelievable. I never expected such a farewell," said Hoffman.
The Dutch rider enjoyed a career spanning 14 years, turning pro with TVM in 1992 and immediately tasting success by winning the Dutch championship. He went onto win stages in the Tour de Suisse (1993), Herald Sun Tour (1994), Vuelta a Murcia (1995), and Omloop Vlaamse Ardennen (1999), as well as the one day races Dwars Door Vlaanderen (2000), Veenendaal - Veenendaal, Clasica De Sabiñánigo (1999), Paris - Bourges (1996), and the A Travers La Belgique stage race in 1996. He was a classics specialist who regularly scored top 10 finishes in spring, and finished as high as second in Paris-Roubaix in 2004. In that race alone, he finished in the top five on five occasions.
