Eight-time Olympic medallist Sir Bradley Wiggins retires from professional cycling
Eight-time Olympic medallist Sir Bradley Wiggins has announced his retirement from professional cycling.
The 36-year-old, who most recently won gold in the men's pursuit at Rio 2016, broke the news of his departure over social media.
Wiggins said: "I have been lucky enough to live a dream and fulfil my childhood aspiration of making a living and a career out of the sport I fell in love with at the age of 12.
"I've met my idols and ridden with and alongside the best for 20 years."
The statement added that 2016 was the "end of the road for this chapter, onwards and upwards".
Britain's most successful Olympian of all time, Wiggins shot to peak fame after winning the Tour de France in 2012 while competing for Team Sky - before success at the London Olympics just months later.
But Sir Bradley had already won his first Olympic medal 12 years earlier at Sydney 2000, where he finished third in the men's team pursuit.
Four years later in Athens, Wiggins took a gold, silver and bronze.
He triumphed again in Beijing in 2008, winning gold in both the individual and team pursuit.
At London 2012 he took gold in the time trial in front of his home crowd, while a gold in Rio this summer completed his impressive tally of eight Olympic medals across five Games.
In his statement, the father-of-two said he had worked with "the world's best coaches and managers".
He also paid tribute to his friends and family, citing 2012 as a particular high.
"What will stick with me forever is the support and love from the public though thick and thin, all as a result of riding a pushbike for a living," he said.
"2012 blew my mind and was a gas.
"Cycling has given me everything and I couldn't have done it without the support of my wonderful wife Cath and our amazing kids."
Sir Bradley had already decided to retire from Olympic cycling after his success in Rio.
His complete retirement from professional cycling comes just four months after the height of the summer Games.
At the time, he told ITV News that bowing out on the back of a gold medal win was a "fairytale ending".
Full list of Olympic medals won by Sir Bradley Wiggins:
Sydney 2000: Team pursuit bronze
Athens 2004: Individual pursuit gold; team pursuit silver; Madison bronze
Beijing 2008: Individual pursuit gold; team pursuit gold
London 2012: Time trial gold
Rio 2016: Team pursuit gold