Former world champion Thor Hushovd to retire from cycling in September
Last Updated: 28/06/14 10:47am
Norway’s former world champion Thor Hushovd has announced he is to quit cycling after the World Championships in September.
The 36-year-old BMC rider is calling it a day as he has been badly affected after contracting mononucleosis which has often left him drained of energy.
"I felt the virus developing in my body and had some good spells, but it happens that I feel really down and very weak physically and mentally," said the 2010 road race world champion.
"I asked myself about continuing and answered 'that was enough'."
Hushovd burst onto the scene in 1998 when he won the junior world championship time-trial race before turning professional with French team Credit Agricole in 2000 where he remained for eight years.
Between 2004 and 2011, he won 10 stages on the Tour de France, was the first Norwegian to wear the yellow jersey, and won the green points jersey in 2005 and 2009.
He also won stages on the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta as well as winning the Gent-Wevelgem one-day classic in 2006.
Known as the 'Bull' or 'Viking', Hushovd was also a double national champion in both the Norwegian championship road race and time-trial.
After leaving Credit Agricole, he had spells with Cervelo and Garmin before finishing with current team BMC.
