Dutch rider Rudie Kemna will retire at the end of this season, his Shimano-Memory Corp team has announced. Kemna, 37, started his professional career in 1999 with BankGiroLoterij, and stayed with that team until it folded at the end of 2004, riding with Shimano-Memory Corp this season. Among his 30 plus career victories are stage wins in the Tour of the Netherlands (1999), Tour of Poland (2001), Ster Elektrotoer (2001, 2002) and the Tour of Rhodos (2003). He has also finished on the podium in the Dutch Championships several times, including winning it in 2003.
This year, apart from being the team's sprinter, Kemna also mentored the younger riders, advising them about living and racing as a professional. In the coming months, Kemna will race in the Sachsen Tour, the Eneco Tour, and several one day Dutch and Belgian races. After he retires, he will stay active in cycling, and may become a member of staff of the Shimano-Memory Corp team next year.
