For 16 years, Esteban fulfilled his boyhood ambition to be a pro cyclist. Five grand tour stages, the 2016 Il Lombardia and general classification podiums at the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España crown his list of accomplishments.

A constant threat in the world’s greatest bike races, Esteban always competed with his trademark smile on his face. As he fought for grand tour victories and won stages on the hardest days in those races, he never forgot the humble values and work ethic that he had learned as a boy in Colombia. He came back from a life-threatening crash in 2013 and continued to pursue his dream, becoming the cycling superstar that he is today.

Every time he pinned on a number, he wanted to encourage the people of Colombia to keep dreaming and to show them that they could make their dreams come true too. Esteban’s greatest cycling dream was to become his country’s national champion, a feat he achieved in 2023. His proudest moment was becoming a father. His daughter Lucia was born this summer. The 2025 Vuelta a España was Esteban’s final race.

“The decision is the right one,” Esteban said of his retirement.

“I am very happy. I am very proud of the sporting career I have had. I’m very happy to close this chapter in the way we are closing it. Who am I without my bike? Without the bike, I am Esteban. I am a son, I am a brother, I am a husband, I am a father. I am a human being who dreams of setting an example, who dreams of being at peace, who dreams of having a lot of contact with nature. I am a human being who learns.”

Esteban will learn a lot about himself in the years ahead. He will face every challenge that comes his way with a smile and continue to inspire his family at home and his fans all around the world. His cycling career has come to an end, but Esteban Chaves is still dreaming - and still smiling.

For the latest film in the Explore Series presented by Wahoo, EF Pro Cycling joined him in Andorra to look back on a career that took Esteban from humble criteriums for kids around the suburbs of Bogotá to the heights of WorldTour cycling - and ahead to his future as a father, without the sport that has given him structure and meaning for most of his life.

Watch “Still Dreaming,” the latest episode in the Explore Series presented by Wahoo, now streaming on YouTube.