Imagine hanging up your bike at the peak of your powers—Victor Lafay's dilemma is tearing fans apart, and it's a reminder of how fragile glory can be in the world of professional cycling.
Victor Lafay, the talented rider for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, is grappling with a huge decision: should he retire at the end of 2025? He's been battling a string of injuries and illnesses that have sidelined him, yet he's shown flashes of his old brilliance recently. It's a 50-50 toss-up for the Frenchman, and his latest performances are stirring up all sorts of debates among cycling enthusiasts.
But here's where it gets controversial... After missing out by the slimmest of margins on victory, Lafay is now just 15 seconds from claiming his first WorldTour stage race overall win as the Tour of Guangxi heads into its final day in Nanning. For those new to cycling, a WorldTour stage race is one of the sport's biggest events, like a mini Tour de France, where riders compete over multiple days for the top spot on the general classification (GC)—that's the overall leader based on cumulative time.
This comeback feels almost miraculous, especially considering Lafay's rocky road since joining Decathlon. Remember his unforgettable triumph on stage 2 of the 2023 Tour de France in San Sebastián, where he outshone stars like Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogačar? That was his last win, and since then, setbacks have piled up. Now, Lafay is contemplating life beyond the bike, telling Daniel Benson's Substack in September that he's "not sure" about racing in 2026. "I’ve not decided yet, but with these two years I’ve had a lot of time to decide on what I’d do after cycling, and I think that I’m okay to stop now. I’m happy to stop," he shared, emphasizing he wants to choose while he's feeling strong, not when ailments are dragging him down.
And this is the part most people miss—the psychology of timing your exit. Lafay reflected to reporters after securing second on the Tour of Guangxi's Queen stage to Nongla (a punishing uphill finish that's the race's toughest test), saying, "I don’t know. Maybe it’s easier to stop when you’re on top form than when you’re struggling and already forgotten." It's a thought-provoking idea: retiring while you're still a force to be reckoned with, rather than fading into obscurity. For beginners, this highlights how athletes often weigh their health and legacy against the thrill of competition. "It wouldn’t be bad to go out at the top," he added, planning to pivot to other sports or even quirky ventures like selling cheese in Japan—because, hey, he's a huge cheese fan! He mentioned this at the Tour of Britain, sparking laughs and raising eyebrows. Is this a fun aside, or a sign of burnout? Fans are divided.
But Lafay's focus right now is on the race. On Saturday, he chased Paul Double of Jayco-AlUla, who soloed to victory with a nine-second lead. Lafay admitted it was frustrating: "I wanted to win, but we’ll go again tomorrow." He wore short ankle socks just like Primož Roglič did at the Tour de France—a minor detail that might symbolize his tactical mindset or a nod to fellow riders' quirks, but it's Lafay's determination that shines through.
Here's the twist that could fuel endless debates: what if his teammate Aurelien Paret-Peintre hadn't crashed just before the final climb? Lafay explained post-race how they lost their key player: "It was a bit hard to manage. We wanted to play with our numbers, but we lost Aurelien just before the bottom of the climb, and he was the card we wanted to play, along with me." UAE Team Emirates' aggressive moves complicated things, and Lafay believes Paret-Peintre could have helped bridge the gap to Double. "I think I had the legs to win," he said, recalling his all-out effort in the last 300 meters after shifting to a smaller front gear for better acceleration— a smart bike-handling trick for steep climbs. He conceded Double's lead might have been too big, but the uncertainty gnaws at him: "He must have made a big effort to get a lead like that, so I don’t know if I had the possibility to do better. But if Aurelien hadn’t fallen, he might have been able to ride in the moment where the race was lost."
Now, with Stage 6 in Nanning offering hilly, punchy terrain where Lafay excels, he has a shot at the GC title. If he pulls it off, it could sway his retirement thoughts. For context, punchy stages are short, steep climbs that favor explosive riders, unlike long, grinding mountain passes.
So, what's your take? Do you think Lafay should ride off into the sunset now, while he's still performing well, or push for one more victory? And does the crash change everything—was it bad luck, or a sign that cycling's unpredictability is unbeatable? Share your opinions in the comments; I'd love to hear if you agree, disagree, or have a controversial counterpoint!
James Moultrie is a highly skilled NCTJ-certified journalist who became a News Writer at Cyclingnews in 2023, following an eight-month freelance stint where he also penned pieces for outlets like Eurosport, Rouleur, and Cycling Weekly. Before that, he covered major events such as Paris-Roubaix and the Giro d’Italia Donne for Eurosport, and has interviewed elite cyclists including Chloé Dygert, Lizzie Deignan, and Wout van Aert. When not immersed in cycling, James enjoys spectating a variety of sports, from rugby and football to cricket and American Football.
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