Pello Bilbao to retire at close of 2026

Basque veteran Pello Bilbao has formally announced his impending retirement from professional cycling at the close of the 2026 season. The 34-year-old, currently with Bahrain Victorious, will conclude a 16-year career that commenced with Euskaltel-Euskadi, moving through Caja Rural and Astana before his seven-year tenure with his current squad. This decision provides a clear two-and-a-half-year runway for one of the peloton's most consistent Grand Tour contenders and stage hunters.

Bilbao's decision, articulated well in advance, offers a rare degree of certainty in a sport often characterised by sudden departures or contract disputes. His career epitomises the reliable, all-rounder domestique who blossomed into a formidable leader, securing a Tour de France stage win in 2023 and consistently featuring in Grand Tour top-tens. This pre-planned exit allows Bahrain Victorious ample time to strategise their post-Bilbao roster, while the rider himself can approach his final seasons with a defined endpoint, perhaps even more aggressively.

A sensible move from a rider who understands the value of a planned exit. Bilbao has always been a pragmatist; this announcement simply confirms it.