Mikaël Cherel
«A wonderful human adventure»
Mikaël Cherel, a professional cyclist since 2007 and a member of the AG2R CITROËN team since 2011, will end his career at the conclusion of the Vuelta a Espana on 17 September.
The native of Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët (Normandy) will have competed in nineteen Grand Tours.
«After seventeen professional seasons, it's time for me to call it quits. It wasn't an easy decision to make, but I'd rather finish while I'm still in good shape than go on for one year too many.
I feel that I have done everything I could. I have optimised what I could bring to the team during my career. When I look back, I see a lot of hard work, a lot of emotions and unforgettable memories.
I have always been deeply passionate about this sport. Since 2007, I have been running with my heart.
This career has been a wonderful human adventure punctuated by delightful encounters. And that is what I will remember most.
I am proud of how far we have come, even though we have not (yet) achieved victory.
I have 22 days of racing left and I want to stay focused until the end of the Vuelta a España (26 August – 17 September) in Madrid, where I will end my career.
I will run for the last time in France at La Polynormande, in front of my family and friends.
I haven't competed there since 2013, when I finished fifth. I've been keen to go there since the start of the year. It's a great pleasure to return to this circuit, just two kilometres from where I grew up.
I won the La Polynormande race for juniors in 2002, twenty-one years ago. It is a powerful symbol for me.
The Tour de Pologne got me back on track, and I'm counting on feeling refreshed to enjoy myself on Sunday in Normandy, then in Spain. I'm really motivated.»
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Joris Chaussinand, member of the AG2R CITROËN U23 team and trainee with the AG2R CITROËN team since 1 August, will compete in his first professional race at the Polynormande.
