Ineos Grenadiers has announced that Ian Stannard has ridden his last race for the team, indeed his last race as a pro cyclist, due to worsening rheumatoid arthritis.
The British rider was diagnosed with the condition in the
past 12 months and while he and the team have tried treatment options, those
efforts have not been successful.
Stannard said when the sport went into lock-down he began
to believe he could continue racing and manage his condition.
However, as he prepared to race again after lock-down it became clear to him his condition was flaring up again and he raced just four days after racing re-commenced.
Dr Richard Usher of Ineos Grenadiers said Stannard’s condition
was severe and it had not been possible for him to continue in the sport because
of its severity.
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“Ian was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 12 months
ago,” Usher said of Stannard, who has only raced 18 days this year, almost all
of that before the Covid-19 lock-down period.
“It has caused him severe inflammation in the joints, and
Ian has had pain in his wrists, knees and ankles. We have tried various
treatments but ultimately Ian has taken the best decision for his long term
health.”
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Stannard has been with the team since its launch as Team
Sky back in 2010 and took seven wins in his career, including two Tour of
Britain stage victories and claiming of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2014 and 2015.
His second win in the Belgian race has become an iconic moment in cycling as broke clear with three Quick-Step riders – Tom Boonen, Stijn Vandenbergh and Niki Terpstra.
Though they tried to work him over, Stannard dropped Boonen and Vandenbergh, during an epic final 40km, and then beat Terpstra in a two-up sprint at the finish.
“It’s disappointing to have to stop like this but it is
clearly the right decision for my
health and my family,” Stannard said of being forced to stop aged 33 years and
after 10 Grand Tour starts.
“We have explored all of the options this year to deal
with my condition, and the team has been there with me every step of the way,” added Stannard.
“I started
to hope that I could manage the problem during lockdown, but as soon as I
returned to racing I knew that my body wouldn’t be able to perform at any level
anymore.”
Stannard, a former British national champion, started his
career with the Dutch Continental team Van Vliet-EBH Advocaten in 2006.
He then spent 2008 with Belgian ProConti team Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner
before moving on to the Italian ProConti team ISD Cycling Team for the 2009
campaign and then riding for Team Sky from 2010.
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