Mertens may end career at 27

By Bjorn Haake

Pieter Mertens (Predictor-Lotto) will possibly end his career at the tender age of 27. He has opted to not extend his contract with the Belgian ProTour team and is a bit disillusioned, reported Sportwereld.

He is considering returning to his medical studies, which he put on hold for his professional cycling career. Two additional years are missing. "Maybe after that I will return to racing, like Serge Baguet did."

Mertens said that he believes he doesn't get enough chances in the team. "I don't have the feeling that I am appreciated by the team management. Some people have let me down, and there are still a lot [of other things] ahead of my life."