Retiring Caruso dreams of ending his career on the Champs-Élysées

Damiano Caruso has confirmed that the 2026 season will be his last, and he dreams of racing one last Tour de France to close out a 17-year career. "At one point, you have to say stop. It's always nice when you can decide the end of the career. This is for sure my last Giro d’Italia," Caruso told The Cycling Podcast at the Giro. “What I can imagine is to retire at the Tour de France after the Champs-Elysées. It will be amazing." There had been rumours that the 38-year-old Italian might be persuaded to race one more season having reportedly placed a bet with Santiago Buitrago: that he'd postpone his retirement if his Bahrain Victorious teammate finished on the GC podium at the ongoing Giro d'Italia. Alas, Buitrago crashed out on stage 2.