Frank Schleck to retire from cycling at end of season
Friday 5 August 2016 08:05, UK
Frank Schleck will retire from cycling at the end of the season.
The 36-year-old Trek-Segafredo rider, who signed his first pro contract with Team CSC in 2003, will compete in the Rio Olympic Games this month for Luxembourg.
But, after a career that included Tour de Suisse and Tour de Luxembourg victories, as well as allegations of doping in 2008 and a subsequent ban in 2012, Schleck says he wants to exit the sport when he is still performing at a high level.
He said: "There is never an easy way to stop doing something you love to do, but I've always wanted to retire at a level where I was still competitive and fit.
"I'm really proud of having spent a large part of my life riding my bike for a living and, above all, I'm extremely thankful for the friends I have made along the way."
Schleck's career highlight came in 2011 when he finished third in the Tour de France, but he finished 34th in this year's race.
Schleck was handed a one-year backdated ban by the Luxembourg Anti-Doping Agency (ALAD) as a result of a positive test of a banned substance during the 2012 Tour de France, while riding for RadioShack-Leopard.
RadioShack-Leopard sacked Schleck, who always maintained his innocence, in 2013 prior to his return, but he re-joined them following Trek's takeover of the team.
