Powerhouse Cummings Hangs Up His Wheels

Olympian and Tour de France stage winner calls it a day after 15 years, writes James Shrubsall

- James Shrubsall

When Steve Cummings announced his retirement from pro cycling last week he did so just as he spent his career — without fuss, without fanfare. In fact he did so with his neck in a brace, thanks to a crash on stage five in September’s Tour of Britain, just down the road from his home on the Wirral. It left him with four broken vertebrae in his thoracic spine and wiped him out for the rest of the year.

It was an unfortunate bookend to a 15-year career that he began with the Birkenhead North End club, and finished on the Birkenhead-Birkenhead stage.

Cummings, now 38-years-old, revealed the news to Ned Boulting on his Road

Book podcast. He had hoped to continue for one more season, he said, but having been dropped by Dimension Data, with whom he had spent five seasons, he was unable to find the right deal, despite considering Pro Continental options.

Amassing 17 professional wins since beginning his road career with Landbouwkrediet-Colnago in 2005, the last two years have seen a dry spell for Cummings. But it’s hard to forget his earlier seasons with Dimension Data; from 2015-2017 he won two stages in the Tour de France, the Tour of Britain overall, a handful of stages in week-long races and a memorable road race-TT double at the National Road Championships.

In 2016 in particular he seemed almost to be able to win at will, recording five victories — his most fruitful year on the road.

Cummings is currently studying for a degree in business and sport management but is yet to make up his mind exactly what the future holds.

“I just want to find something, the right mix,” he told CW, “where I can earn enough money and have time to live life, too.”

Birkenhead North End is justifiably proud of its historic association with Cummings, and its web home page features an image of him posing with club members.

Finding freedom