Marta Cavalli has decided to end her professional cycling career after nine years. The Italian climber received a touching farewell from her colleagues at the Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche, announcing her decision with a touching Instagram post.

"Another season is over, but the aftertaste is slightly different," Cavalli wrote. "I can feel the weight of the years spent chasing dreams and goals, and after pouring liters of sweat, clocking up kilometers, and exceeding my limits time and time again, I feel exhausted."

Cavalli's career peaked in 2022, when she won the Amstel Gold Race and the Flèche Wallonne, as well as finishing second in the Giro d'Italia. However, a terrible crash during the Tour de France Femmes that same year marked the beginning of a difficult period.

The last few years have been marked by constant ups and downs, with the cyclist struggling to regain peak condition. In 2024, new accidents further complicated her path: a fall during a training camp in February and a car crash in July.

"I've found myself at a crossroads several times, but I've always chosen to stay and get back into the game because I've never liked giving up," the athlete confessed. "After a year of reflection, I can say that I no longer feel part of this world and it's time to say goodbye to the group because my work here is done."

The decision, though painful, opens up new horizons for Cavalli: "I can't hide my sadness, but the time has come to loosen my grip and pursue other dreams I've had in my heart."