Michael Barry explains retirement from pro cycling

Canada’s Michael Barry has decided to hang up his wheels after a nearly two-decade career as a road cyclist citing his concerns of further injury and wanting to spend more time with his family as the main reasons.

“I’ve been thinking about retirement for the last few seasons, which is one reason I only signed a one year contract for 2012,” Barry told Canadian Cycling Magazine. “The time away from my family has become increasingly difficult and the accumulation of injuries has made me fearful.”

Barry broke his femur and elbow at the Tour of Qatar in the early season and most recently broke his arm at the Tour of Wallonie. He says he is fully recovered and will compete in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec and Montreal on September 7 and 9 and plans to end his career on October 13 at the conclusion of the Tour of Beijing.

“I have recovered well and my arm feels good again,” Barry said. “As these will be my first races after six weeks of rehabilitation, I’m unsure how my race fitness will be, but I’m excited to race in Canada. The goal is to enjoy the races and help Edvald [Boasson Hagen].”

“The course in Montreal suits me best, but generally I tend to do well on hard, hilly circuits, so I’m looking forward to both races,” he added. “They’re ideal on many levels. They’re hard enough that the racing is exciting and, as they are set in the city centres, they’re ideal spectacles.”

The Toronto native started his professional cycling career with the American team Saturn from 1999-2001. After much success in North America, he was recruited to race for U.S. Postal Service and Discovery Channel where he spent the next five years, 2002-2006. He made the move to T-Mobile and HTC-Highroad from 2007-2009 and capped off his career with the British team Sky Pro Cycling from 2010 to present.

“Each year has been memorable for different reasons but I have truly enjoyed racing for Sky during the last three seasons,” Barry said.

Barry’s main role was a domestique, but he was no stranger to the podium having won a stage and the points jersey at the Osterreich-Rundfahrt, a stage at the Tour of Missouri. He was also part of the winning team time trial at the Vuelta a España, Giro d’Italia and Tour de Romandie. He competed in all three grand tours and many of the one-day Classics.

When asked if he accomplished everything he had hoped to during his career, Barry said, “Yes. Over the past two seasons, I have reflected a lot on what cycling and racing means to me. As I have matured, my perspective of what is important has changed.

“I have realized that what has made me happiest in my career has not been the results but the experiences, the friendships and the memories. In that respect, looking back I have accomplished more than I would have ever imagined.”

Canadian Cycling Magazine spoke with Barry in a live web chat earlier this summer.