News: Simon Richardson retires from professional cycling

Former mountain biker turned roadman, Simon Richardson of IG Sigma Sport rider to join cycling media agency

IG Sigma Sport rider Simon Richardson, has today announced his retirement from professional cycling at the end of 2012, having already ridden his last race. The rider, who has just completed this year’s Tour of Britain for the surrey-based Team IG Sigma Sport was recognised with Rouleur’s Combativity Award on the final stage finish of his career.

Simon started as a cross-country mountain biker, which took him to the Commonwealth Games, as well as winning the 2005 British Under 23 Championship. He was a member of the Great Britain Cycling team from 2003- 2007. He became a professional racing cyclist in 2007 and won the overall title in Ireland’s 2009 Rás stage race. Simon joined the Sigma Sport – Specialized team in 2010.

On his decision to retire from professional cycling, Simon Richardson said: “I’ve been carefully considering my professional future over the last season, and this feels like the perfect moment to end this chapter of my career. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved over the last few years and have enjoyed it wholeheartedly, but it is time for a new focus. Finishing at the Tour of Britain was a great way to round things off and winning the combativity classification in my final stage felt like a great acknowledgement and a perfect send off.

“I’m certainly going to miss the camaraderie of my team, and the fantastic support of everybody at Team IG Sigma Sport, but I’m excited about the possibilities that the next stage offers me.”

Simon will join cycling communications agency, SHIFT Active Media next month and will work with a number of globally recognised cycling brands.