A bombshell: Romano Hummel announces his definitive retirement

Just yesterday he was basking in the glory of being European grass-track champion on the podium in Aduard; today, in a personal interview with SPEEDWEEK.com, Romano Hummel announced his retirement from track cycling. He will still compete in the race in Vechta and the Team World Championships in Roden. “Then my career will be over; that’ll be the end of it for good.”

The 27-year-old Dutchman had already announced his retirement from track cycling once before, at the end of September 2024, following a nasty crash at the Long Track Grand Prix in Vechta. He was plagued by health problems afterwards. But he made a comeback and has been riding as a club rider for MSC Berghaupten since 2025.

In 2021, Hummel became long-track world champion and, in 2023, team world champion, representing the Netherlands. In Aduard, near Groningen, he won a European Championship final on Saturday for the third time, following his title victories in 2022 and 2023. And he did so in front of his family and his large fan base, who generated enormous enthusiasm during the races in which Hummel took part.

Hummel: “It was wonderful to win here in my ‘living room’ in Aduard and to become European Champion again. Yes, I’m still going strong, but now it’s over. No more races after Vechta and Roden – then my career is over. That’s it.”

The reasons for his definitive retirement are personal. “Now is the time for my children and to get my life back on track. I’ve got so many things on my mind, especially because of my children. They play football, so I have to go along on Saturdays. But if I’m always racing, Dad can’t be there for football and other things,” said Hummel on Sunday, visibly shaken. “My career will soon be over; I’ve had some glorious times, but it has to end at some point. And one thing’s for sure: there’ll be no comeback.”