Bjorn Leukemans enjoyed yet another successful spring campaign this season with respectable results obtained in Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix and Brabantse Pijl and reportedly his Pro Continental Wanty-Groupe Gobert team is ready to extend his contract for two more seasons, but the 37-year old rider is full of doubts whether to continue his career as a professional cyclist.

While Leukemans admits that physically he still is at one hundred percent, the new, extremely aggressive style of racing introduced by youngest riders effectively discourages him from continuing to risk his health as a professional cyclist.

“Physically I feel at hundred percent, but every coming year brings the same doubts. During the Ster ZLM Toer I was the second oldest rider in the peloton after Petacchi. It’s difficult especially in regards to the way younger riders in the peloton are behaving,” Leukemans told Sporza.

“There are more and more reckless riders, but they do not see themselves this way. I understand Andre Greipel when he says that the new generation is heading in different direction. There is less respect and less sense of danger [in them]. All those crashes make me wonder: how long am I going to still expose myself to all that danger?”

According to Belgian media, his team manager Hilaire Van der Schueren was more than satisfied with Leukemans’ debut within Wanty – Groupe Gobert squad and reached an agreement with the sponsors regarding a contract extension and a corresponding salary increase.

However, the 37-year old is yet to decide whether to continue his career as professional cyclist.

“I do not know if it’s going to happen. I can decide for how any years I’ll continue to ride a bike, but for now I do not know yet. I’ll follow my feelings and the situation on transfer market,” Leukemans concluded.