Clancy calls time on storied cycling career

Cycling Track 03 Aug 21

It is hard to imagine a more unassuming triple Olympic gold medallist and seven-time world champion than Ed Clancy. 

Flying under the radar as Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy and the Kenny’s hogged the headlines and scooped up knighthoods, Clancy was the ultimate team man within British Cycling. 

So in many ways, it is fitting, if incredibly cruel, that the 36-year-old has called time on his Olympic dreams midway through competition in Tokyo for the good of the team. 

The ongoing back issue and sciatica that has troubled him for the past seven years has flared up in Japan.

It became apparent during the qualifying in the men’s team pursuit on Monday, Clancy struggling to keep the wheel of Ethan Hayter at the end of the race as GB qualified fourth fastest. 

The problem was preventing Clancy from producing his best form, and while clearly emotional, this is a man who was never going to make the selfish decision, even if it would have been the easier one. 

He explained: “I’d have rather gone round there tomorrow in a 3.38 high-fiving the crowd with my fourth gold medal in hand on the podium but that aside, I’m glad I’ve got this far and I’m glad that I’ve gone down kicking and screaming and fighting. 

“I’m disappointed for it to have ended this way, I felt like I’d done all the hard work. We’d managed my back, the injury has been an issue for the last seven years really and I’ve had good weeks, I’ve had bad weeks.  

“Everything was going well in Newport (at the preparation camp) and it’s just more of a drain off the bike than on it really. I was just five percent off it yesterday and that’s enough to cost you in the last kilo. There’s younger, fresher guys, injury-free, who deserve a chance so this is why I’m here today. 

“There’s no way I’m going to pretend my back is ok and jeopardise the chances of the entire team. I want those boys to do well, I want what’s best for the team, for British cycling and I don’t care if that comes at my expense.” 

Clancy has not only withdrawn from the team pursuit, he has also called time on his Olympic career as a whole. The second call was probably expected considering his age, but no less difficult. 

He explained: “I’ve made two hard decisions in the last 24 hours. (Pulling out of the team pursuit) was one of them, and I think calling it a day and retiring from the Olympics was another. They are two incredibly difficult decisions that I’ve made but it doesn’t mean they are wrong. 

“I knew I didn’t have it 3k into that race yesterday. You’ve got so much adrenaline and nerves and will for the first 1, 2, 3k but after that you have only got what you’ve got and I couldn’t go any harder.

“Once I saw Ethan’s wheel going away from me, I knew I wasn’t quite where I needed to be. You might have seen it in my eyes yesterday but I probably knew there was a better option out there.”

A full 16 years on from his first World Championships, and first world title, Clancy’s swansong will not have been what he had hoped, particularly after all the work that he has done to manage his back and make it out here. 

For Clancy, this marks an extremely difficult way to bow out with emotions understandably raw.  

Clancy added: “This is the end and it’s massively (emotional). When I think back to 2005 and my first World Championships, it’s been an amazing journey. 20 years I’ve been with British Cycling and they’ve stuck with me through good times and bad times, I’ve had some life-changing experiences. If I could go back in time, I’d do it all again. 

“These are my end credits so thanks to everyone in British Cycling, a special shout-out to Hannah Crowley, the physio who has genuinely extended my career by seven years I think. Friends, family teammates, everyone has been ace and I couldn’t have done it without the greater team.”

Clancy was gracious in thanking all those who have helped him along the way. It seems only fair to recognise a man who has deserved every accolade that has come his way.

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