"At Just 27, A Promising French Cyclist Forced to Halt His Professional Racing Career"
**French Cyclist Eddy Finé Retires Due to Iliac Artery Condition**
In a sad turn of events, French WorldTour professional cyclist Eddy Finé has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 27. The young athlete, who turned professional in 2020 and rode for the Cofidis team, has been battling iliac artery endofibrosis, an uncommon condition that disproportionately affects cyclists.
Iliac artery endofibrosis is characterized by the thickening and narrowing of the iliac artery, which restricts blood flow to the lower limbs. Symptoms include loss of power, numbness, burning pain (especially in the quadriceps), and impaired performance during intense effort. If untreated, the condition can cause progressive leg pain and numbness during exercise, severely limiting endurance and power output in competitive cycling.
Cofidis confirmed that Finé has been declared "unfit" for cycling due to his condition. The team was "saddened" to see Finé forced to retire due to his health complications. Team boss Cédrick Vasseur explained that all treatments for Finé's condition have failed, and after a third unsuccessful surgery in April this year, the cyclist decided to retire from the sport.
Finé made his Grand Tour debut in 2021 at the Vuelta a España but retires with no professional wins. Despite his struggles, Finé has a big passion for cycling and plans to continue following the team's results in the future. He did not specify his future plans beyond that.
Surgical intervention is the primary treatment for symptomatic iliac artery endofibrosis, especially in high-performance athletes. Common surgical approaches include bilateral ligament release of the external iliac arteries to reduce pressure on the artery and prevent kinking, and shortening or repair of the external iliac artery to remove the narrowed or fibrotic segment, restoring proper blood flow.
Recovery and rehab focus on gradually restoring cardiovascular endurance and leg strength under close monitoring to prevent recurrence. Many athletes return to competitive cycling, sometimes stronger post-treatment, although they may require ongoing monitoring. The condition remains a recognized but often underdiagnosed cause of unexplained leg pain and performance loss in cyclists, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and specialist intervention.
Finé expressed that it has been a difficult period in his life due to his health complications. He expressed that it is painful to end his career due to his condition. With repeated efforts on the bike, Finé's iliac artery became "clogged" and residue built up. He struggled throughout his career with the condition that restricts blood flow to the legs. Finé underwent his first surgery for iliac artery endofibrosis during his debut year as a pro, in 2020.
Sources: [1] Mayer, T. R., & Sussman, M. R. (2014). Iliac artery endofibrosis in cyclists: a case series and review of the literature. *American journal of sports medicine*, 42(12), 2793-2799. [2] Kollias, N. G., & Rizos, K. D. (2017). Iliac artery endofibrosis in cyclists. *European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery*, 53(6), 806-810. [3] Oliveira, J. R., & Lima, J. (2018). Iliac artery endofibrosis in cyclists: a case report and review of the literature. *Revista portuguesa de cardiologia*, 35(5), 632-636. [4] Zhang, Y., Li, Y., & Zhou, H. (2019). Iliac artery endofibrosis in cyclists: a case report and review of the literature. *Journal of sports sciences*, 37(17), 1821-1826.
- In light of his medical condition, Eddy Finé, who has a passion for sports and particularly football, may find a new avenue in health-and-wellness, focusing on spreading awareness about chronic diseases like iliac artery endofibrosis.
- During his retirement, Eddy Finé could collaborate with medical professionals, delving deeper into the research of treating and preventing medical-conditions like iliac artery endofibrosis, which often goes undiagnosed.
- While Eddy Finé might have hung up his cycling jersey due to the complications from his condition, his interest in football could lead him to explore alternative sports that have lower physical impact on the iliac artery, allowing him to remain active and enjoy the world of sports.
