UAE Team Emirates announced Wednesday that 23-year-old French rider Alexis Brunel has decided to end his contract early and retire from professional road cycling.

Brunel also made the announcement on his Instagram, writing, "After long introspection and multiple questions, the time has come to announce my retirement from the professional (cycling) world." He concluded his post by saying, "This weekend, I will participate in the Ironman 70.3 in Nice, where I will reunite for a new adventure."

"I want to thank everyone at UAE Team Emirates for the opportunities and support they have given me. It has been a pleasure to be a part of this great team, but now it is time to turn a new page and focus on the new challenges and experiences in my life."

"I am very happy to be a part of this great team.

In a press release, team manager Mauro Gianetti said, "We still believe that Alexis has great potential and we have already seen glimpses of it in the first part of this season. But we are talking about a human being, not just a cyclist. We wish Alexis all the best for the future."

Brunel joins the ranks of racers who have left the high-pressure environment of the World Tour in search of a simpler life. In particular, Tom Dumoulin retired, returned, but failed to make a satisfactory comeback and plans to retire again at the end of this season.

Brunel began his career in the Groupama-FDJ development program, racing for the French World Team in 2020 and 2021 before moving to UAE Team Emirates this season.

His only professional victory came in the first stage of the 2020 Etoile de Besseges.