'Mark Cavendish stopped answering his phone' – Max Richeze retires in San Juan as 2023 plans fall through

SAN JUAN ARGENTINA JANUARY 22 Maximiliano Richeze of Argentina and Team Argentina prior to the 39th Vuelta a San Juan International 2023 Stage 1 a 1439km stage from San Juan to San Juan on January 22 2023 in San Juan Argentina Photo by Maximiliano BlancoGetty Images
Max Richeze is racing for the Argentina National Team at his final race, the 2023 Vuelta a San Juan (Image credit: Maximiliano BlancoGetty Images)

Max Richeze hadn't planned for it to end like this, but he's made his peace with the idea that maybe it's a fitting way to say goodbye all the same.

The Argentinian takes his final bow as a professional rider this week as the leader of his national team at the Vuelta a San Juan, calling time on a career that saw him earn a reputation as one of the finest lead-out men in the peloton.

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.