Romain Bardet has not yet decided whether 2024 will be his last season as a professional cyclist. The Frenchman's contract with DSM-Filmenig Post NL expires at the end of this year, but he has indicated that he will not decide to retire until the summer.

"If I knew for sure, I would say so. What I am thinking about now is healthy," Bardet told L'Équipe. 'I'm fully committed to the 2024 project and I'll be at home for about 20 days, from January 1 to the end of May. What will the payoff be? Will I feel alive?

The 33-year-old has committed to compete in the Giro d'Italia, starting his season on February 16 in the Classique Vale, where he will try to win a stage in the Grand Tour. In his last appearance, in 2022, Bardet was in fourth place overall, but was forced to retire due to health problems.

Bardet, who will also be competing in his 11th Tour de France, dismissed the idea that there might be a grand farewell party in Auvergne, like Thibaut Pinot's emotional farewell in Vosges in 2023.

"I don't feel so justified about it," Bardet said.

"Our track record and our careers are different," Bardet said, "so I don't think it's justified.

Bardet told L'Équipe that he experienced burnout in 2019 and then moved from AG2R to DSM before the 2021 season in search of a reset. Bardet has enjoyed success with the team, including a stage win at the Vuelta a España and an overall win at the Tour de Alps, but he has also experienced setbacks along the way.

"Since COVID, I have become more vulnerable. I wonder if my body is sending me a message."

Bardet's best performance in 2023 came at the Tour de Suisse, where he finished fifth overall, but he crashed out of the Tour de France the following month.

"Last season I was consistent, but I felt I lacked sparkle. I didn't need much to turn things around, but that's a matter of if, but ......" He said. But it's a matter of if."

Bardet emphasized that his professional career could last until 2025, but he is thinking about what he will do once he puts the wheels down.

"I'm on fire with energy and commitment to my sport, but I'm already thinking about ways to channel that energy into something that will have a positive impact. I'm thinking of a model that would attract large corporations to cycling and create a link between business and cycling, something rugby excels at."