Colbrelli, winner of Paris-Roubaix in 2021 and European champion, collapsed in March in the Tour of Catalonia and had to be resuscitated. He was found to suffer from cardiac arrhythmias and had a defibrillator implanted.
Because it is prohibited in Italy to participate in top sport with a defibrillator – footballer Christian Eriksen also encountered the problem – Colbrelli did not play for Bahrain-Victorious this season.
In April, the message came that the Italian was back on his bike for “recreational rides”, but a return to the pro peloton seems unlikely. La Gazzetta reports that Bahrain-Victorious will hold a press conference on November 15, at which Colbrelli will announce his retirement.
Colbrelli has been investigating in recent months whether a comeback was possible. He had contact with Christian Eriksen, among others, who suffered a cardiac arrest at the European Championship in 2021 and in the meantime continues his career with a defibrillator at Manchester United.
Such a comeback is more difficult for Colbrelli. He races with an Italian licence. In addition, the International Cycling Union (UCI) is said to have banned Colbrelli from transferring to a Swiss license, even though he lives in Switzerland.
Source: Sporza
