Colourful champion kiwi cyclist to step off his WorldTour bike

Road, Track & Cyclocross
Archbold win 1 1 v2

One of New Zealand’s most versatile, distinguished and likeable cyclists, Shane Archbold has announced his retirement from the sport.

Archbold, 34, has announced his retirement from the sport as a Commonwealth Games medallist on the track, London Olympian, World Tour rider and over a decade as a professional cyclist.

He will finish his time with World Tour team Bora Hansgrohe in China next week.

“As they say all good things have to come to an end. After 20 years of dream chasing and 9 years professional it’s time to pull the curtain down on my cycling career,” Archbold said.“I have lived the best times and the worst. With some amazing people, But in the shortest thanks! Thank you to everyone who was in my corner. One last race in China next week.”

The South Canterbury rider, renowned for his “flying mullet” hairstyle, first came into prominence in the Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.

He won the silver medal in the 2011 world championships in the omnium which earned his selection for the London Olympics in 2012. He was a star at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games both on the track and road. He won a gold medal in the scratch race, and rode brilliantly to set-up Tom Scully for the gold in the Points race. He was also part of the Team Pursuit that won the bronze medal, and produced a stunning ride in the wet to set up Jack Bauer for the silver medal in the road race.

Archbold began his professional career on the road with An Post Chain Reaction in 2013, moving to Bora-Argon in 2015 which morphed into Bora-Hansgr0ohe World Tour team in 2017. He moved back to Pro Continental with Aqua Blue Sport and then to Evo Pro Racing in 2019 before returning to Bora Hansgrohe and the WorldTour in 2019. Archbold, who developed into one of the next leadout riders with Deceuninck-Quick Step in 2020 and moved back to Bora Hansgrohe for the last two years.

Archbold enjoyed success at home, winning the national road championship in Cambridge in 2020 over fellow professional George Bennett.

He has ridden in three Grand Tours at the Tour de France in 2016 and 2020 and the Vuleta a Espana in 2019.

“Shane has earned every bit of success he has enjoyed in his career both on the track and the road,” Cycling New Zealand’s Graham Hunn.

“We know him for his lavish mullet that he is so proud of, and his outstanding humour. But he is also a very smart and seriously competitive cyclist with a sharp mind for the sport.

“We wish him well and sure he is a bright future in our sport off the bike.”

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