Having spent almost four decades as a professional cyclist, team owner, and manager, Bjarne Riis has bid farewell to the world of cycling, according to an article in the Danish outlet, Børsen. A prominent figure from the notorious 1990s era and the 1996 Tour de France champion, Riis considers his time in the sport to be over. He will instead shift his focus towards family and new business ventures. The Dane, whose nickname in Danish was the “Ørnen fra Herning” or, the Eagle of Herning (his hometown), said that his family has relocated from Switzerland to Denmark.
New business ventures
Recently, he co-founded Riis Energy, a company specializing in the sale of heat pumps imported from Lithuania. Additionally, he has assumed a position on the board of Nørtec, a company involved in the sale of laundry appliances and electric vehicle charging stations.
Chapter in cycling is now closed
“I have been in the world of cycling—that’s a closed chapter. I feel like doing something else,” he explained. “It’s a mishmash of circumstances.”
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Riis said he has a desire to spend more time with his two eldest sons and grandchildren, especially after becoming a grandfather for the second time to a little boy.
The Dane’s legacy, like so many pros in the era, was tarnished when it was discovered he had doped for most of his career.
Doping admission
In April 2007, Jeff d’Hont, a former soigneur for Bjarne Riis, exposed doping practices in cycling in his book, implicating Riis and other riders. Following that, Bert Dietz, Riis’ ex-Telekom teammate, admitted to doping during their time together, prompting confessions from other teammates and team doctors. Soon, hree more teammates, Rolf Aldag, Erik Zabel, and Brian Holm, confessed.
Responding to the admissions, Riis, issued a press statement acknowledging “mistakes” and openly confessed to using EPO, growth hormone, and cortisone from 1993 to 1998, including during his 1996 Tour de France victory. After retiring from cycling, Riis went on to work as a directeur sportif for several teams, including CSC.
Fan of Jumbo-Visma
He does admit to still watching bike racing, as a fan.
“I still keep track of the sport– probably a bit too much, if you ask my wife–and if you look at Jumbo-Visma, they are just so skilled,” Riis said.
“Of course, they have a large budget, but…
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