Titouan Carod retires, one of the big names in French MTB

The French mountain bike scene will lose one of its most recognized names of the last decade this weekend. Titouan Carod has unexpectedly announced that he will end his professional career after competing in this Sunday's event, a decision he explains has been on his mind for some time and has been made with the support of his team, BMC.

Titouan Carod unexpectedly announces his retirement from professional mountain biking: “Competition was doing me more harm than good”

At 32 years old, the French rider closes a career marked by great international successes, including the bronze medal at the 2020 World Championship in Leogang and two victories in the XCO World Cup achieved in 2022. However, he acknowledges that his relationship with competition had completely changed in recent seasons.

“I still enjoyed riding my bike, but not competing”

In an extensive message posted on his social media, Carod explains that the decision is not due to a loss of passion for cycling, but rather the toll that continuing to compete at the highest level was taking on him.

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“After a long period of reflection, I have made the decision, with the support of my team, to end my career as a professional mountain biker.”

The Frenchman assures that this is a fully accepted decision and one he does not regret.

“It is a well-considered decision, which I fully accept and do not regret at all. The pleasure of riding a bike remains intact. However, I no longer felt comfortable in competition. Over time, it was doing me more harm than good.”

Carod also recalls the journey from his early years on the bike and thanks all the experiences he has lived through more than fifteen seasons at the elite level.

“When I think of that kid who simply dreamed of riding a bike, I would never have imagined living an adventure like this. I have been lucky enough to fulfill dreams, defend great colors, meet extraordinary people, experience immense joys, and also difficult moments. All of this has built me as a person.”

A career full of international successes

Trained in one of the brightest generations of French MTB, Titouan Carod began to stand out at a very young age. In 2012, he won the bronze medal at the Junior World Championship and, already in the under-23 category, established himself as one of the great talents in international cross country, winning the overall classification of the World Cup twice and becoming world runner-up in 2016.

His leap to the elite confirmed the potential he had shown in lower categories. In 2020, he had the best season of his career with the silver medal at the European Championship and the bronze at the World Championship in Leogang, before reaching his peak in the World Cup two years later.

In 2022, he achieved his two only victories in the highest international XCO competition, winning in Mont-Sainte-Anne and Val di Sole. In this last venue, he also claimed victory in the Short Track (XCC) event, marking the most successful year of his sporting career.

MTB will continue to be part of his life

The last campaigns had been much more complicated for the Frenchman, who never managed to regain the consistency of his best years. Even so, he makes it clear that his bond with mountain biking does not end with this farewell.

“This is not an end. It is the beginning of a new chapter. Mountain biking will continue to be part of my life, in a different way. With new challenges, new projects, and, I hope, many more stories to live.”

Carod concludes his message by thanking the support he has received throughout his career from his family, his team, his sponsors, and the fans who have accompanied him both on the circuits and from home.

With his retirement, international cross country bids farewell to one of the most prominent French riders of the last decade, a key player in some of his country's best results in the World Cup and major international championships.

Most notable achievements of Titouan Carod

• Bronze at the Junior World Championship (2012)
• Two-time overall winner of the under-23 World Cup
• World runner-up under-23 (2016)
• Silver at the XCO European Championship (2020)
• Bronze at the XCO World Championship in Leogang (2020)
• Two victories in the XCO World Cup (Mont-Sainte-Anne and Val di Sole, 2022)
• Victory in the XCC World Cup in Val di Sole (2022)