by “For as long as I can remember, I have had one big goal in life: to become a professional cyclist. No matter what happened outside of that goal, cycling gave me the discipline, focus and separation to pursue that goal. It was worth it. “He touched me in ways I never thought possible and challenged me to blood, scars and tears,” he continued. “Cycling is a roller coaster ride and the highs are fewer than the lows. “Yet every moment – good or bad – has made me a stronger and greater person. The mentors I have had have guided me through the difficult points and given me opportunities and belief, while most have not.”
Meanwhile, in an in-depth interview with L’Equipe, Berg explained his own reasons for retiring from cycling early. “I have made the decision to stop cycling at the highest level and return to the cycling I loved with fewer headaches, fewer restrictions and perhaps even more enjoyment,” Berg explained. “I love cycling and it was a dream of mine to become a professional, but this year I realized that it wasn’t necessarily the right thing for me because I had to make a lot of sacrifices, spending time away from my loved ones, having repeated crashes , was constantly tense and had little time to do anything else.
Although he never reached the highest level, Berg is already feeling the effects of the sport’s rigors and dangers. “My body is damaged and I am scarred for life. Last July I had four crashes in ten kilometers during a race in Belgium. I was a little scared,” he reveals. “My age played a role in my decision to quit. At 18 I wasn’t ready, it was too early. I didn’t have the maturity to give up everything for cycling. I didn’t know how to implement my passion.” I constantly felt stuck in a routine, cycling, cycling, cycling, I no longer had a social life. I turned down a hike. These little things add up.”
“The development teams don’t want to miss the next nugget, the future Pogacar, the future Evenepoel. “So as soon as a junior gets results, they sign him, except we’re not all like Pogacar or Remco,” notes Berg. “I don’t regret my decisions. It was a great experience. Maybe in two or three years I’ll try again. I’m still driving. I will get an amateur license again. And when I train, I will… Still put on my Quick Step jersey. I just want to tell the young riders to make the most of their junior years. And don’t give up on your studies. You need something in case something goes wrong. It’s just a cycling career.”
