ALEX Dowsett has announced his retirement from professional cycling on the road.

The 33-year-old from Cock Clarks, a former UCI Hour record holder and six-time British time trial champion, had previously indicated he wanted to race for two more seasons but announced a change of heart via a YouTube video.

“I’m going to step out of the WorldTour, step out of pro cycling from now,” he said.

“I think what’s changed is this year I’ve gone through a period where the want to win something bigger than I’ve previously won or be better than I’ve previously been has wavered.

“I’ve been more in a state of actually being happy with what I’ve achieved and being content with my work, and my achievements and success and application.”

 

Dowsett spent time in his career with Trek-Livestrong, Team Sky, Movistar, Katusha-Alpecin and most recently Israel Premier-Tech, securing that team’s first Grand Tour stage win with victory from a breakaway on stage eight of the 2020 Giro d’Italia.

He broke the prestigious Hour Record with a ride of 52.937 kilometres in Manchester in May 2015, although Sir Bradley Wiggins took the record from him only a month later.

Dowsett, who also runs the Little Bleeders charity, is a haemophiliac and is believed to be the only able-bodied athlete to have the condition.

In the YouTube video, Dowsett indicated his future would “be on two wheels” but said he would wait to share his plans.

“I have achieved everything I can within the WorldTour, within professional cycling at this level, but also I’ve witnessed life outside pro cycling and that’s filled me with excitement,” he said.