Walking away from professional cycling at the age of 27 had been one of the most daunting decisions of James Tennent’s life.
Former professional road cyclist James Tennent reflects on his decision to retire from the sport at the height of his powers. Photo: Chris Hitchcock
After all, it was all he had known. And he had been pretty good at it.
Now, after four years of reflection, he believed it was the best thing he could have done to preserve his sanity.
Tennent, whose career stretched from 2010 to 2016, said pursuing a pro career was like pedalling up a never-ending incline.
“There were constant struggles behind closed doors, getting over hurdles of self-doubt, being sick at the most inconvenient times and recovering from crashes.”
The uncertainty of not being guaranteed a salary each January and having to deal with difficult personalities were other factors that influenced his decision to call it quits at the height of his powers.
The story of the disillusioned Tennant, whose family immigrated from Edinburgh in 1995 to settle in Cape Town, had a familiar ring to it. As a young boy, he dreamt of becoming a pro cyclist.
“Looking back, I was young and inexperienced in life and a little misguided. I put my faith and trust in the wrong places.
“At the end of the day, it’s not always your athletic capabilities that matter,” the former MTN-Qhubeka rider, who had once won the Tour of Mauritius, said philosophically.
“It’s about having some luck on your side and meeting the right people at the right time.”
The loss of his father, his best friend and biggest supporter, two years before the end of his career was one of his lowest moments.
Tennent Senior, who had been receiving treatment for cancer, became ill while his son was on his way back from the Tour of Mauritius, in which he had won the first stage and briefly held the yellow and polka dot jerseys before placing second overall.
“He passed away 24 hours after I landed,” said Tennent, who would end up not touching his bike for several weeks before finding enough focus to train for the end-of-season races.
He found racing to be an emotional distraction and went on to record victories at the Lorraine Cycle Tour (in Port Elizabeth) and Stellenbosch Cycle Tour during that stint.
His sweetest victory came two seasons later when he returned to the Tour of Mauritius and won it in the memory of his father.
Giving all that up in the hope of discovering a new life was equally challenging.
“Suddenly I was a fish out of water,” said Tennant, who married the woman who had opened his eyes to the “big wide world” beyond competitive sport.
They had become an item in early 2014 and he credited her with helping him endure what was to become a rollercoaster year after his father’s passing.
“Having her by my side through everything helped me regain my focus and channel my energy back into racing.”
Equally so, he relied on her support and encouragement as he transitioned away from cycling.
The 31-year-old said that if he had to compare the current version of himself to that of a decade ago, he would like to think that the tumultuous ride had made him stronger and braver.
“I have no regrets about the choices I made and I’m very happy where my life is right now.
“Although this is proving to be a tough year for everybody and it’s difficult to see where the light at the end of the tunnel is, my goal is just to remain positive.
“I remind myself that my situation could be a lot worse. I’m thankful that I’m still employed,” said Tennent, who worked for a cycling apparel company.
The cancellation of mass participant events had knocked the industry as well as his earnings but he felt he was equipped to deal with it.
“I am resilient though and tough times are nothing new to me,” said the former pro, who had been able to relegate the sport to a means of keeping fit and having fun, which meant he might just line up at the odd event that appealed to him.
His long-term goals had changed from succeeding on the WordTour to running his own business.
“I’m still discovering what that might entail though,” he confessed.
