It's a bitter farewell to cycling for Kevin Seeldraeyers. "I would have preferred less praise from the press when I won the white jersey in the Giro and in Paris-Nice in 2009 ," says Seeldraeyers.

Two days ago Kevin Seeldraeyers (29) announced that he is retiring from the peloton.

"After my failed Tour of Turkey (in May, ed), I actually already knew that it was over," Seeldraeyers tells Sporza. "For my (Turkish) team Torku-Sekerspor, it was the main objective of the season. (Seeldraeyers finished an anonymous 51st, ed).

"I could probably still ride on the continental level next year but that circuit is not for me. I have to rely mainly on climbing which is mainly found in the WorldTour."

In 2009, Seeldraeyers had an amazing breakthrough: in Paris-Nice and the Giro, he was the best young rider. "I would have preferred to receive less praise from the press."

Seeldraeyers could never match that successful year. "In the 2010 Tour, I was sick and I have never been the same since then.

"I suffered from one disease after another until last summer when the cause was revealed: Exercise-induced asthma. If we had known that a bit earlier, my career had been different. But you're obviously not one hundred percent sure."