As for this fall's retirement, the media spotlight is honing towards the departures of Greg van Avermaet (AG2R・Citroen) and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama・FDJ) from professional racing. But the Belgian classic star and the French mountaineering champion are not the only names hanging their wheels this month.

Spain's Imanol Erviti (Movistar) announced he would leave the sport at the end of the year, shortly after completing Il Lombardía this Saturday, while retired Tony Gallopin (Lidl-Trek) finished Paris-Tours in number

with Cofidis, Gallopin's most successful spell as a professional since 2010. RO. From 2013 to 2018, he took the stage at the Tour de France and led the race all day.

During that period, 'Gallopin' Gallopin' won the stage in Paris-Nice and the Vuelta a España, as he was nicknamed by some English-speaking media. He also claimed his biggest one-day victory at Clasica San Sebastian in 2013, as well as a second finish on two more occasions in Spain's only World Tour Classic.

"The sending out I got from my fans, the great race, the way I fought so hard...Frankly, it could not end better," Gallopin then told L'Équipe.

At the 64th finish, Gallopin said he had long planned to finish his career in a race that he often watched as a spectator as a child.

"When I was a kid, not 10 years old, I raced as a U23" – won in that category on the 2008 edition of the Paris Tour - "and as a professional for almost the last 15 years. It's incredible," he added.

The next step in Gallopin's career has already been determined. Like his former uncles Alan and Joel, he will become sports director in the case of Gallopin with Lotto-Dstny in 2024.

Imanol ErvIti, who joined the team when Illes Balears-Caisse d'peggne became a sponsor in 2005 and remains on the team until 2023, is one of 1 Lai who has been with Movistar throughout his career.

On a personal level, his career-high points have been In fact, his 2016 7th place in Flanders was Movistar's best ever result at that time: a two-stage victory in the Vuelta a España, as well as a top 10 in a race where Movistar and the Spanish team were not traditionally as prosperous as in the Paris-Roubaix or the Flanders tour. It was De Ronde. But his real strength was in being one of the most valuable and reliable domestiques of the sport. Elviti has won more than 29 grand tours, most recently the 2023 Vuelta a España, with Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde, Oscar Pereiro and Mikel Landa as team leaders.

He was uncertain about continuing another season, but the 39-year-old finally decided to finish his career after the Vuelta.

Writing earlier on Twitter, X, he said, "After 19 years of unforgettable experience on a personal and professional level with Movistar, it's time to say goodbye.

"I want to thank all the team members, from the people who first noticed me when I was junior to those who are on the team today.

"Special thoughts, too, for those who are no longer with us, to them, to their families, you will always be in our hearts."

"People always say that life is full of stages, and one stage will end, there will be some new opportunities for the next." Now it's time to take a step back, think for a while, and then go all for them.”