While some riders are busy announcing their new teams for 2026 or negotiating contracts, the highly respected Belgian domestique Tim Declercq has announced that he will retire at the end of this season.

Affectionately nicknamed 'The Tractor' for his ability to pull long and powerfully at the front of the peloton to close down breakaways and prepare the ground for the team's sprinters, Declercq embodied the essence of the perfect domestique throughout his 14-year professional career.

At 37, the Belgian rider can look back with pride on a career dedicated to serving his teammates. Although he has never won a professional race, he has found his true calling in working for his teammates in the cobbled classics and grand tours.

Declercq fulfilled this role impeccably during his long stint at QuickStep, first serving Marcel Kittel and then Mark Cavendish, his teammate in 2021 and 2022. After five years at Topsport Vlaanderen and seven at QuickStep (2017-2023), he moved to Lidl-Trek to support Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan.

The announcement came with a touching Instagram post, accompanied by a photo gallery retracing his cycling career, starting with his first victories as a youngster. Numerous messages of appreciation arrived from illustrious colleagues such as Cavendish, Van Aert, Evenepoel, and Pedersen, who highlighted his loyalty, dedication, and great passion for the sport.

The decision to retire came after Lidl-Trek refused to offer him a contract renewal. Declercq will finish the 2025 season with a few more races, thus concluding a career that has left an indelible mark on modern cycling.