PETERBOROUGH legend Hans Andersen has called time on his 23-year career.
The Danish superstar, who rode for nine different British clubs, officially announced his retirement today.
While he never won an individual world title – his highest placing was fifth in both 2007 and 2008 – he won two World Cup gold medals, raced in 87 Grand Prix rounds and won the top-flight league championships with Peterborough (twice) and Swindon.
Andersen came through the ranks in his native Denmark: he had his first bike as a toddler, made his racing debut as a nine-year-old and went on to captain his country in a World Cup winning side in 2008..
Denmark had strength in depth colleague Nicki Pedersen dominating the global stage with three individual world titles while Hans twice finished fifth in the Grand Prix rankings.
Overall he won six GPs, two World Cup gold medals, the Danish Championship in 2007 and league titles in Denmark, Poland, Sweden and the UK.
In his official retirement statement, 43-year-old Andersen said: “It is something I have been thinking about quietly over winter and Christmas.
“It feels right now. The time is right, I don't really feel anything from the injuries I’ve had. I can still walk and run. I have a bit of metal in my hand and around the body, but it's nothing that gives me any problems or pains at all.
“I still have many years ahead of me where I want to be able to wake up without any pain.”
“In my career there’s been sacrifices and things we’ve not been able to due to my commitments, so now it’s my time to pay them back. I would not have been able to race speedway without particularly my wife's support.
“It is great to race speedway, but I always thought it is something special to ride in front of the Danish crowd.
“I am Danish through and through, so I am very proud to have represented Denmark.
“It was amazing to be the first Dane to win the Grand Prix at Parken , just as it was great to stand as captain at Vojens in 2008 in front of 18,500 people and be hailed as a world champion.
“But now I would like to give first priority to my children and my wife."
Andersen made his British debut for Poole in 2001 and also had stints with Peterborough, Ipswich, Coventry, Belle Vue, Swindon, Leicester, Plymouth and Berwick.
He never missed a season in Britain and raced the vast majority of his career in the top flight, making 593 appearances in official competitions and scoring 5,790 points (including bonus).
In 2021 he also doubled up racing for Peterborough in the Premiership and Leicester in the Championship and continued in both leagues at Peterborough, Plymouth and Berwick in 2022 and 2023.
He rode in 59 Championship meetings, scoring 495 points, taking his career total in the UK to 652 matches and 6,285 points.
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.