Dean Lucas Announces Retirement from Downhill Racing
Dean Lucas has announced that after 11 years of international racing, he will be stepping away from the sport after the final round of the 2023 World Cup series at Mont Sainte Anne.
 | So it’s finally happening, the end of an era, after 17 years of racing bikes in Australia and 11 years of racing around the world it’s finally time to call it a day. The idea of retiring from the sport has been floating around my head since covid happened, the forced retirement that happened in 2020 changed my perspective on where I found fulfilment and what truely made me happy, since then my love for the sport has a slowly drifted further and further away, this left me constantly second guessing my decisions to stay in the sport. I knew coming Into this season I had to make a decision for my future so I stopped living in this limbo state of mind. When you have been in something for so long it becomes apart of you, the sport becomes a pillar of your identity, something pretty much all athletes lean into, the idea that “this is who I am, and this is what I do” becomes so imprinted in a persons mind that they think without it they won’t be themself. I battled with this idea for a while back in 2020 when it was all taken away from something out of my control, but after some time I came to terms with it, accepting that I was so much more than what I did as a job, around the same time I found so much more fulfilment in helping others in either big or small ways. Whether it was helping up and coming racers in the sport or sharing some words of wisdom on a podcast, these things seemed to feed my soul the same if not more than the racing used to. At this point my focus started to shift and the drive and want to be the best racer in the world wasn’t like it used to be. I know what it takes to be the best in the world, it takes every part of your being, and if you’re not willing to give that, you’re just passing the time. I don’t want to take the opportunity away from someone that is willing to give their all in the pursuit of greatness. I don’t want to pass the time, I want to be obsessed with whatever is in front of me! It’s time to step away and set my sights on the next chapter of my life, to learn and grow in another area that has the same pull riding and racing used to have on me, I’m excited for that! Lastly, I’d urge anymore reading this to go after what they really want in this life! What truely makes them happy and fulfilled! What makes you feel like you are meant to be here! What inspires and captivates you into being your true authentic self! What brings the best and brightest people into your life and lets you shine as bright as you know you can! And what makes you want to get up every morning! That’s what riding and racing used to be for me. It took me around the world to extraordinary places filled with incredible people along the way! I can’t thank everyone enough that has been apart of this journey and has helped make this dream turn into a reality! Big Love! I hope you can find your thing, I hope you chase after it with everything you have, and I hope you do it for no one else but you. |
Dean will be missed at the races, but we wish him the best of luck with what comes next.
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He hasn't had a to 20 since 2021.