91原创 cyclist Svein Tuft rode in his final race Sept. 15th at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Qu茅bec et Montr茅al.

For the 13-time Canadian champion, the Montreal race was a surprisingly emotional experience, 鈥渁 powerful thing,鈥� Tuft told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淚t was really starting to hit me,鈥� Tuft recalled. 鈥淚 was truly done.鈥�

He described his state of mind at the end of the race as 鈥渢ruly content, along with a million other emotions.鈥�

Tuft had actually intended to retire a year earlier, after riding with an Australian team, but a startup American team, Rally UHC, convinced him to delay his departure and lend his depth of experience and laid-back attitude as mentor and 鈥渞oad captain鈥� to the young Americans.

鈥淚 thought it would be a good way to retire,鈥� he said.

from on .

He has called racing his 鈥渁ddiction,鈥� but that became less the case with age and fatherhood, Tuft discovered.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e young, you just go full-out,鈥� Tuft related.

鈥淚 had that focus. You think it鈥檒l never change, but it will.鈥�

As a new dad with a two-year-old son, the potential hazards of high-speed racing were more worrisome than they used to be.

鈥淚t becomes less interesting,鈥� Tuft observed.

Physical wear and tear is another reason.

鈥淵ou start getting clues from your mind and your body,鈥� he said.

At 42, Tuft was one of the oldest competitive cyclists in the world, with a lengthy string of credits that, in addition to his Canadian titles, included winner of the 2006鈥�07 UCI America Tour, eight years riding on the WorldTour, wearing the pink jersey reserved for race leaders at the based in Italy, and a silver medal at the 2008 world championships.

鈥淚鈥檝e just been going full-gas for 20 years,鈥� said Tuft, who began racing at the relatively old age of 23.

In a video from Cycling Canada, riders across the country wished him well in his retirement.

Tuft was known as Canada鈥檚 鈥渢ime trial king,鈥� as an 11-time Canadian national time trial champion, where cyclists race alone against the clock, and two-time road champion.

A few weeks into his retirement, Tuft was adjusting the fact that, for the first time, he won鈥檛 be planning his training schedule based on his upcoming races, and he won鈥檛 be training nearly as hard.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a strange time鈥� he commented.

鈥淚鈥檝e got to start figuring out normal life鈥�

He plans to take some time to figure out what he wants to do, but expects it will include writing a book about his career, and helping to coach the next generation of competitive cyclists in Canada.

READ MORE: Tuft set for Tour de France debut

READ MORE: 91原创 cyclists deliver one-two punch at nationals

His wife is from Quebec, and he has family in 91原创 and Kamloops, so he anticipates they will split their time between the two provinces.

The couple is planning to have one more child.

Asked his opinion if either of his children elected to pursue the sport of cycling, he said that will be their decision

鈥淐ycling is a crazy sport,鈥� Tuft noted.

He credits his longevity to maintaining an upbeat attitude about the ups and down of the sport.

鈥淚t was all about changing my perspective and focusing on the positive.鈥�

READ ALSO: VIDEO: GranFondo riders take to the streets of Fort 91原创

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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