The Swiss rider has decided to call time on his 14-year professional career.
4.10.2024
The Tour of Lombardie was to be his last race. ‘I love this race, it's the most beautiful of the Classics in my eyes. I've ridden it many times and it's become a tradition for me to bring my family along. So, I was delighted to cross the finish line with them one last time. It's always a relief to finish this race, as it marks the end of a season. This year should have been the end of my career’. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. Sébastien broke his collarbone in a training crash at the end of September. ‘It was a really stupid fall. It's part of the sport, but I'm disappointed that it's happened now.
A career spanning 14 seasons
Like many Swiss riders, Sébastien started as a mountain biker. His junior years were devoted to the Swiss Cups, and it wasn't until he entered the U23 category that he discovered road cycling. ‘I quickly realised that I was better at it than mountain biking, so I was quickly selected for the national team and was able to join the Atlas Personal - BMC Continental team for two seasons’. As well as racing, the Valaisan also worked part-time as an electrician. ‘At the time, I was planning to switch to a full-time job after my U23 years. Turning pro was never a goal or a dream for me’. But the end of his U23 years coincided with the launch of a Pro Continental team in Switzerland: IAM Cycling. ‘They offered me a two-year contract and I didn't think twice to sign’.
Sébastien quickly adapted to life in the pro peloton and had an excellent first season. In the team, nobody had a precise role and everyone had the opportunity to play their own card. The Tour de Romandie was on Sébastien's calendar in the first year and the Tour de France in the second. Sébastien remembers: ‘I don't have very good memories of that Tour de France. I wasn't in great shape so July turned out to be a long month, but it was a great experience’. After renewing his contract for a third season, he was given the chance to lead the Giro d'Italia. But things didn't go well, and it was then that he realised that his calling was to be a domestique.
After three years with IAM Cycling, Sébastien joined the FDJ team, which was looking for strong riders to help Thibaut Pinot with his Grand Tour ambitions. It was the start of a seven-year adventure with the French team. ‘It was another great experience, and I have very fond memories of those years. We had some great successes and some failures too, but at a very high level’.
While Pinot was announcing his forthcoming retirement, Sébastien heard about the new team project about to be launched in Switzerland. ‘I was happy to come back to Switzerland. Coming from the same country makes things easier, we have the same culture, the same mindset. And when I heard that Fabian Cancellara and Tudor were involved, I knew it was serious’. Sébastien joined the team in January 2023: ‘I'm happy to have been part of the adventure from the start. This team was really lacking in Switzerland to motivate young people to take up cycling. Things are moving very fast, there are big ambitions and I'm proud I was part of it’.
After two years with Tudor Pro Cycling, Sébastien decided it was time to call time on his career. ‘Maybe it's because of my age, but it's mainly because I have a family now and it's becoming difficult for me to be away from home. I've always been a homebody and that feeling is only getting stronger. I've also always wanted to stop at the right time, and that time has come’.
When asked about the highlights of his career, Sébastien doesn't need to think for long: ‘My first victory in the pros at the Trofeo Matteotti in 2013 was extraordinary, especially as I shared it with my team-mate Johan Tschopp. My first Giro with FDJ, when we fought for the podium with Thibaut Pinot (2017), was also an amazing experience. And racing the Tour de France in the Swiss National Champion's jersey was very special. In fact, I was lucky enough to do it twice because of the postponement of the 2020 National Championships due to Covid! (laughs).
A few days earlier than he had imagined, Sébastien Reichenbach put an end to his career after nine Grand Tours and two victories, but above all a long career dedicated to teamwork. He is now looking forward to riding without a training plan. But he's ready to share some! In the coming weeks, he will start studying to become a coach. ‘I've always been very interested in training and nutrition, and always wanted to understand why I do this or that. I've been training a friend, Antoine Debons, for a few seasons now and I'm looking forward to continuing to do so with other cyclists and endurance athletes.’
Good luck in your next adventure Seb. And thank you, it's been a pleasure!
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