Ex-Team Sky rider Tiernan-Locke retires from professional cycling

Former Team Sky rider Jonathan Tiernan-Locke has retired from professional cycling, citing that he no longer has the motivation to try and compete with the world's best.

The 32-year-old was banned for two years for a doping violation before returning to national-level racing in 2016, by which time he had been stripped of the Tour of Britain title he claimed four years earlier.

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But despite his comeback, Tiernan-Locke was unable to hit the heights of previous seasons in his bid to return to the top, leading him to turn his back on the 2017 early-season calendar.

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Instead, he has dipped his toe into the waters of property renovation and redevelopment, looking to put behind him the 'biological passport' ban that curtailed the later stages of his career.

Britain's Jonathan Tiernan-Locke

Image credit: Imago

"I'm glad I raced last year, even if I was never that fit, as I felt I needed to come back and compete at some level," Tiernan-Locke told the Exeter Express and Echo.

"I just about did the bare minimum in training, often missing a few days' riding at a time – and that was the polar opposite to the way I was before.

"I have searched for the motivation, but the fact is that it's difficult to get fired up about the kind of races that I once saw as stepping-stones to the pro world.

"To make the sacrifices needed for me to be decent again, I'd need to be in a completely different mindset.

Jonathan Tiernan-Locke

Image credit: Eurosport

"And I wouldn't want to be a pro again anyway. I love what I'm doing at the moment.

"Although I'm 32, I haven't had a long career of racing, so if and when the desire to race returns, I might do another season.

"I still love riding, and I do intend to get back on the bike soon. But for now, I just plan to keep fit and enjoy being a social rider – even if I probably will get stuck in now and again!"

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