Australian Jess Allen says goodbye to professional cycling

Jessica Allen has been racing at the top of the sport for a decade but now the 30-year-old has announced she is retiring from the sport, announcing it on social media.“It’s almost the end of a big chapter in my life,” Allen said on social media. “After 10 years, I have decided that 2023 will be my final year in the pro peloton.

“Cycling has been part of my life since I was nine. Sport, like anything else, is full of ups and downs, but I have loved riding roller coasters, being part of a team, adapting to different cultures, pushing myself to new limits, learning from the experience and being the next generation to give something back .

“Most importantly, cycling has allowed me to form friendships with people around the world that will stay with me forever.”As a junior in 2011, Allen caught attention when she clinched the Oceania Time Trial title, then converted that to the World Junior Time Trial title at the World Championships in Copenhagen.She signed with a UCI registered team at Vienne Futurscope in 2013 before traveling to North America in 2014 to ride for Canadian team NCCH Powered by DEC Express. In 2016, she joined Australian team Orica-Scott (now Jayco-AlUla), where she would spend the next seven full seasons on the road.

The West Australian built a reputation as a workhorse for the Aussie team and was part of Annemiek van Vleuten’s golden years with the team, most notably at the 2018 Giro Donne where van Vleuten won and Amanda Spratt finished third overall.

Allen’s most notable personal achievements came when she won the elite women’s national criterium title with a solo in 2017 and also captured the elite road race title at the 2014 Oceania Championships.“It was a difficult decision but I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved on and off the bike and I look forward to new challenges and opportunities.”Allen will wrap up her professional road racing career with the final races of 2023, with the Simac Ladies Tour also serving as a farewell for Annemiek van Vleuten.

“The season isn’t over yet and my final races will be the Simac Ladies Tour, Tres Valli and China. I’m feeling a lot of emotions, but I can’t wait to enjoy these final races with my GreenEdge team and see where the next chapter takes me,” Allen said.