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After nearly two decades of victories, the icon of Spanish cycling announces retirement

José Joaquín Rojas is retiring from cycling. The 38-year-old Spanish cyclist recently expressed doubts, but has now confirmed his retirement. Rojas enjoyed an extensive career, having entered the professional cycling world in 2005.

Doubts in early October

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ll think about it this week and then make the decision,” Rojas told El Farolillo Rojo at the beginning of October.

“This is the end of an era,” Movistar now says on social media. “Rojas will hang up the bike at the end of the year, after a career of almost two decades, 17 years, almost all of them with Movistar. He has been a wonderful teammate. Someone who always helped others and shared his experience when needed.”

Two-time Spanish champion

Rojas began his career in 2005 with Liberty Seguros-Würth but switched to Caisse d’Epargne, the predecessor of the current Movistar team, after one season. In the early years, he was the team’s main sprinter but later transformed into a luxury domestique for the captain. Rojas became the Spanish champion in 2011 and 2016.

The Spaniard rode under the leadership of Eusebio Unzué for a whopping seventeen seasons, but this collaboration is now coming to an end. His teammate and contemporary, Imanol Erviti (39), also decided to hang up the bike.

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