Australian rider Stuart O'Grady has announced his retirement, one day after completing a record-equaling 17th Tour de France.
The 39-year-old O'Grady called time on a 19-year professional career after a strong performance by his Orica GreenEDGE team in this year's Tour. Teammate Simon Gerrans won the third stage and O'Grady stood on the podium when the Australian-based outfit won the team time-trial in the fourth stage.
O'Grady competed at six Olympics, winning a gold medal with Graeme Brown in the men's madison in 2004, and won the 2007 Paris-Roubaix race. He has competed in the Tour every year since 1997, and this year matched American rider George Hincapie's Tour record of 17 appearances.
O'Grady won three Tour stages in his career, and wore the leader's yellow jersey for nine days.
- AP
