Joel Suter is unexpectedly abandoning professional road cycling: the imposing Swiss time-trialist is retiring from the scene with immediate effect, as announced by his team Tudor Pro Cycling, with whom he had a contract valid until the end of the season. The 27-year-old's decision came following his lengthy recovery from the concussion he suffered after a crash at the Romandie, as he could no longer find the same confidence on the bike in a sport that has become increasingly frantic. To fill the gap created, the squad co-founded and led by Fabian Cancellara is promoting former speed skater Lennart Jasch, who will be fielded at the upcoming Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes.

Suter's sudden retirement

«He felt he no longer had the same confidence in the frantic world of professional road racing», this is how Tudor justified Joel Suter's sudden retirement from the professional ranks. The Swiss rider had crashed during the second stage of the 2026 Tour de Romandie and was sidelined in accordance with the concussion protocol designed to protect athletes. And rightly so: his recovery proved to be anything but straightforward, requiring several weeks before he could be reintegrated into the team's racing schedule. However, Suter used the enforced break to reflect on his future and ultimately decided to retire from professional cycling. The Swiss rider felt he was no longer able to cope with an increasingly frantic and therefore more dangerous sport. A decision driven by great honesty, but one that also raises questions about the degree of extreme competitiveness in current racing. Until the end of the season, he will focus on gravel competitions. During his career, Suter won a national time-trial title in 2022 when he was with UAE Team Emirates and a stage at the Giro di Sicilia the following year, already in Tudor colors. His recent seasons had been sparse in terms of success, with 2026 so far marked by numerous race abandonments including those at Liège and Amstel.

Room for Jasch

Suter's vacant spot has been assigned to 25-year-old German Lennart Jasch, who is therefore moving up to the first team after a background as a speed skater and having already made a strong impression. Just over a month ago, the climber triumphed on the 4th stage of the Tour of the Alps with a finish in Trento, also winning the mountain classification. He will be immediately engaged at the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (formerly the Dauphiné), which kicks off on June 7th.