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Fabien Barel Announces Retirement from World Cup Racing

After a solid 4th Place finish at La Bresse, Fabien Barel announced his retirement in front of his home crowd while still on the podium. His final World Cup race will be at Val di Sole, followed by World Champs at Champery.

It's been a great journey, Fabien! Cheers to you for all the long years, three World Championships, fighting through the injuries, always making us laugh, and progressing our sport in so many ways.

Fabien visualizing the perfect run, as he always does. - Photo by Gary Perkin

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109 bturman http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/109/avatar/c50_89625830_1267691215.jpg?1290150150 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/bturman,109/all 08/01/09 75 21 6 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/bturman,109/setup 1389 211 CO, USA 754 651 564 1021

bturman
8/7/2011 9:16 AM

13 comments

756 Scrub http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/756/avatar/c50_90973730_1283011954.jpg?1290151549 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Scrub,756/all 09/03/09 3 2 East Co Co County, CA USA 1 21 174

Scrub

8/9/2011 9:56 AM

Tell Freecaster to hire him, his MTB knowledge is almost endless and his track rides would be sick!
1034 tarka http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/1034/avatar/c50_90314800_1283451548.jpg?1290152138 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/tarka,1034/all 10/07/09 2 6 1 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/tarka,1034/setup 4 6 Boulder, CO USA 9 44 296

tarka

8/8/2011 6:52 PM

such a bummer and so rad at the same time... definitely classy, and fast. congrats Fabien!
1748 Andre Palmer http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/1748/avatar/c50_photo_1_1.jpg?1307431658 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Andre-Palmer,1748/all 01/19/10 1 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Andre-Palmer,1748/setup 264 Jakarta, IDN 6 5 79

Andre Palmer

8/7/2011 7:04 PM

He will be missed by the whole world of mountain biking, especially DH'ers. One of the greatest rider I get to see in my life. Best of luck for your future Fabien. Thank you for all the action and excitement you bring to the sport
2194 Uncle Cliffy http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/2194/avatar/c50_86789040_1268468279.jpg?1290155976 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Uncle-Cliffy,2194/all 03/11/10 1 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Uncle-Cliffy,2194/setup 6 2 Medford, OR USA 33 139

Uncle Cliffy

8/7/2011 6:38 PM

Part of me hopes he'll make some sort of comeback in a couple years...
427 sideshow http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/427/avatar/c50_Screen_Shot_2012_05_07_at_1.37.06_AM.jpg?1336369065 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/sideshow,427/all 08/06/09 1 2 11 Burlington, USA 55 260

sideshow

8/7/2011 2:52 PM

Mr. P took the words right from my key board. If there is one man who is the epitome of a professional athlete, Fabien Barel is the man. His style and calculated aggression is second to none, and his presence will be missed, though I'm sure that he will still be involved in the sport in some way. Cheers to you Fabien, and well wishes for the future.
8610 91001 http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/8610/avatar/c50_kbt.jpg?1316719325 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/91001,8610/all 06/03/11 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/91001,8610/setup Altadena, CA USA 17 18

91001

8/7/2011 12:31 PM

Congratulations on a peerless career, Fabien. What's next? Team management, coaching, R
74 Primoz default/avatar/c50.png http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Primoz,74/all 08/01/09 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Primoz,74/setup SVN 14 89

Primoz

8/7/2011 12:25 PM

Aaaaaaaaw, he will be missed. But it's his decision at the end of the day.
5930 mickeydesadist default/avatar/c50.png http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/mickeydesadist,5930/all 12/25/10 1 CAN 1 15

mickeydesadist

8/7/2011 11:56 AM

great instruction video too
9993 Ricorider http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/9993/avatar/c50_IMG_0727_portrait_300x300.jpg?1312743049 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Ricorider,9993/all 08/07/11 Paris, FRA 1

Ricorider

8/7/2011 11:53 AM

Still can"t believe it.
94 iceman2058 http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/94/avatar/c50_90695340_1272747091.jpg?1290150111 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/iceman2058,94/all 08/01/09 2 2 5 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/iceman2058,94/setup 6 ISR 4 84 404

iceman2058

8/7/2011 11:35 AM

Oh noes!!!!! Say it ain't so!!!??? Fabien, one of my all-time favorite riders to watch, always exciting, always classy, always fast. Will be sorely missed!
1988 CRAV http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/1988/avatar/c50_88912690_1266457341.jpg?1290155233 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/CRAV,1988/all 02/17/10 Novato, CA USA 1

CRAV

8/7/2011 10:41 AM

dude fabien u shred soooo hard!! gooodjob bro 4th thats badass.. i think u made a smart decision keep up ur ridding and come to cali
2 sspomer http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/2/avatar/c50_92089000_1246117928.jpg?1290149851 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/sspomer,2/all 06/26/09 10 114 16 1 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/sspomer,2/setup 6240 105 Ventura, CA USA 929 410 744 1091

sspomer

8/7/2011 9:50 AM

Fabien, you're always a blast to watch and your insight into the sport is unparalleled. thanks for the great action over the years!
2744 Mr. P http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/2744/avatar/c50_Sharp_jedi_3_copy.jpg?1331911896 http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Mr-P,2744/all 05/08/10 1 Rocklin, CA USA 7 57

Mr. P

8/7/2011 9:40 AM

Fabien is pure class. A true professional.