Lawrence ten Dam has put an end to his 17-year professional career; last weekend's Il Lombardia, where he finished 94th, was his last pro race, and he now has his eyes set on adventure riding, with races like Dirty Kanza and Cape Epic on the horizon.

Ten Dam recalled on the CCC team website his career, which started in 2003 with Rabobank's Continental team and has ridden for teams such as Unibet, Rabobank, and Sunweb before joining the CCC this season. [He has twice finished in the top 10 in Grand Tours, finishing eighth overall in the 2012 Vuelta a España and ninth overall in the 2014 Tour de France, and in the 2017 Giro d'Italia, he helped his Sunweb teammate, compatriot, and friend Tom Dumoulin win the overall He contributed to the team's success.

"My first Grand Tour was in 2008, my fifth year as a professional. I had been racing for a small team that didn't compete in the Grand Tours until then. When I turned pro, I didn't necessarily expect to be in the Tour de France, but it was an uphill climb for me, and I finished 21st in my first Tour."

"I was a very good rider.

"I was really happy to race in the big leagues and since then the Tour has been the race that built my year. My reputation in the Netherlands and in cycling in general started to grow at the Tour.

"The Tour de France is my favorite race of the three Grand Tours. I always watched this race when I was little and it was my dream race. I reached Paris 10 times and finished inside the top 10 in GC in 2014." I am proud of that.

Ten Dam, who turns 39 in November, added that he is enjoying the process of gradually becoming one of the older, more experienced riders in the peloton.

"I've hit it off with a lot of the younger CCC team riders this year, and when they ask me questions I try to answer them as best I can. I had similar relationships with teammates like Dumoulin and even Sam Omen (Sunweb)."

"But at Rabobank, I often set the example rather than teach by word of mouth.

"But it's nice to know that people see me as someone they want to learn from, look up to, and get advice from. I also got a master's degree in coaching, so I don't plan on doing that next year, but maybe something in the future."

"I still really like riding my bike, and right after Lombardia I'm going on a big trip to the south, towards Italy. It will be an exciting moment for me because the change from pro cyclist to adventure rider will start soon."

"I'm really looking forward to the Lombardia,"

"I'm really looking forward to the Lombardia.

"This is what I aim to do in the future, to satisfy my love for cycling instead of professional cycling. For example, I would love to do Dirty Kanza, Cape Epic, or some crazy bikepacking race. That would be cool."