Dario Pieri was about to get his big return to Paris-Roubaix this year but he abruptly retired only one week before his main season goal. His retirement comes at age 30 after nine years of racing in the Professional ranks. He spoke with the newspaper La Nazione explaining his very abrupt retirement.
It was not worth it to keep getting up every morning to ride my bike when I just did not want to ride any longer. I am nauseated with the bike and cycling in general. It was a tough decision and I am sad to make it, but it is a mutual decision with the Team LPR management. I felt inside me that I could no longer honor my contract which is why I have to leave.
The past few seasons Pieri has suffered through weight problems and a team switch halfway through 2005.
It is true that in my career I have met many different people some that like me and have shown themselves to be my firends. But there are other folks that I am tired of dealing with that are not very nice. These people have also caused me great pain internally, therefore I had to say enough. I don’t want to get into details, but for this life, I am sick. I saw that cycling no longer gave me any satisfaction and I pressed with this decision to quit. I am tranquil because I reflected on this decision for a long time. I could still misss cycling, but I can say with certainty that this is the right move. I am sad because I still believed that I could succeed, but I could not do anything differently. I could no longer support living this life.
Bitterness, delusion, therefore no cycling in Pieri’s future what about as a Director Sportif?
Absolutely not, I will return to normal life, I will try to find find a regular job and thank all of the friends that have remained with me and supported me in this activity.
Dario Pieri seems tranquil and calm. He seems to have forgotten the nine years that he rode as a pro following a great amateur career. Four victories overall, the last was at the GP Harelbeke in Beglium in 2002 and many brilliant placings such as two second place finishes, one in the Tour of Flanders in 200 and the other in Paris Roubaix three years later. Pieri’s career also spanned six different teams. On Sunday is Paris Roubaix, the race that he once dreamt about winning.
Maybe I won’t even follow the race, not even on TV
It is true, Pieri has truly broken with cycling.