'I know many teams would have taken me on' - Meintjes insists Lotto-Intermarché merger didn't influence retirement

Louis Meintjes ended his 13-year cycling career at Il Lombardia in October, concluding a professional journey that began with MTN-Qhubeka in 2013 and finished with Intermarché-Wanty in 2025.

The 33-year-old leaves the WorldTour with seven professional victories, including a stage win at the 2022 Vuelta a España, and three top-10 finishes in the Tour de France, with his best result being 7th in 2022. 

Despite the ongoing Intermarché-Lotto merger leaving many riders and staff uncertain about their futures, Meintjes confirms his retirement decision was made independently.

"I wouldn't say so," Meintjes said when asked by bici.Pro if the merger influenced his decision. "I could always look for other contacts if I wanted to. I know that many teams would have taken me on. For me, that wasn't the most important factor in my decision to retire."

Reflecting on his achievements, Meintjes expressed contentment with his career, though also insisted that he wasn't just chasing results.

"Yes, I am quite happy. For me, the result of the race was never that important. If I didn't win but had a good race and achieved a good placing, that was fine. So I was lucky enough to win about ten times, including some important races, but for me it was more important to give 100 per cent."

When asked about his most significant result, he highlighted his 2022 Vuelta stage victory and top-10 finishes at the Tour de France. "I think winning the Vuelta was really great because it's different when you get a good result, but when you cross the finish line first, it's something really special. 

“But finishing in the top ten in the Tour de France is also really special, only you really feel it a year or two later, when you realise what a great result it was."

Meintjes isn’t the only rider from his nation who has hung up his wheels at the end of the 2025 season, as Ryan Gibbons of Lidl-Trek will bow out of the sport. Meintjes believes that the popularity of cycling has increased significantly during his career, but he acknowledged the lack of WorldTour riders as he retires

Alan Hatherly, the cross-country mountain bike World Champion, is set to be the only South African rider in the men’s WorldTour in 2026 with Jayco AlUla. A significant decline from Meintjes's days at MTN-Quebeka, turned Team Dimension Data, where there were 12 South African riders in the men's WorldTour.

"I think our cycling goes through ups and downs. Right now, it's perhaps not at its peak because it's a bit difficult to emerge without big teams in South Africa. When we had Qhubeka, it was still a privileged channel and gave resonance to our activity."

"At first, many people didn't understand that I was a professional cyclist and that I did it for a living. But now, if I talk to someone in South Africa and tell them that I was a professional cyclist, they understand that it's like football or another sport, where you can have a full and financially rewarding career."

Looking ahead, Meintjes has no immediate plans. "That's a good question, because I don't know. I don't have any plans yet. First, I want to take some time off and rest, to really think about what I want to do. I need to settle down after more than a decade immersed in a routine."

Meintjes also offered insight on cycling's trend toward younger riders, suggesting careers like his may become increasingly rare. 

"I think so, examples like mine will become more and more the exception, partly because cyclists are starting earlier. After 10 years at the highest level, you start to see things differently from how you see life. So if they start young, they will probably also stop young."