Having suffered a stroke in 2013, Matthieu Sprick has realized that he will not be able to return to the professional peloton. The Frenchman has decided to end his career.

Later this year Matthieu Sprick ends his relationship with his current team, Giant-Shimano. Like many others, he finds himself in the position of not having a team for next season.

For Sprick, the fight for a new jersey would be a small challenge. So far, the Frenchman has had to use all his energy to renew his contract with life.

On May 22, 2013 he suffered a heart stroke at home. He was preparing breakfast and fell when he was about to turn on the coffee machine. His wife was at his side and the fast reaction from the medical team was decisive in the next hours.

Several weeks in the hospital gave way for a big rehabilitation. He had suffered a stroke that significantly affected the limbs and his ability to speak.

In 2013, his fight to return to normal life continued and he hoped to return to racing this year. 

But it has been impossible. Sprick has tried to return to cycling, and has returned to training but at 33 years of age, it is clearly that it is time to move on from his career as a professional cyclist.

"It is physically impossible to return," he told L'Equipe. His mobility, his feet, his hands and his ability to speak are still affected by his health issue.

"But I still have much moral," he said. "I always tell myself that many victims of a stroke would love to be like me. Now I must seek a new career".

In his career, Sprick did six editions of the Tour de France and two Vueltas a Espana and Giri d'Italia. Between 2004 and 2010, he rode for Jean-René Bernaudeau at Brioches La boulangère and Bouygues Telecom before moving to Skil-Shimano (later Argos- and Giant-Shimano) in 2011. He won the Tour du Doubs as a neoprofesional in 2004 and the first stage of the Tour de Langkawi four years later.