Surprisingly, Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Merida) has announced his instantaneous departure after 18 years as a professional cyclist. The Italian veteran announced the news in a message released by the Lampre-Merida team.

"I feel it’s time to dedicate time to myself and to go in search of new interests," Petacchi said in the statement. "My career has been full of satisfactions and enriched by all the most important victories that a rider like me could ever have aimed for. At the threshold of 200 victories in my career, I feel my life reaches a particular moment, a turning point, in which I perceive the need to find a new dimension and to have more time to dedicate to my family. These considerations lead me to the decision to end my career."

Petacchi’s career dates back to 1996 when he turned professional, riding for Scrigno until joining Fassa Bortolo in 2000. He went on to ride for Team Milram, LPR Brakes-Ballan and Lampre-Farnese Vini respectively.

Petacchi skyrocketed his career in 2003 when he won six stages at the Giro d'Italia, four stages at the Tour de France and five stages at the Vuelta a España, an accumulated number of stage wins in the three Grand Tours in the same season unmatched by anyone. He went on to take  a record-breaking nine stages in the 2004 Giro d'Italia, gobbled up Milan-San Remo in 2005 and the green points jersey at the 2010 Tour de France.

Subsequently Petacchi found himself involved in a doping controversy when he tested positive for Salbutamol at the 2007 Giro d'Italia. He maintained he suffered from asthma and had a TUE (Therapy Use Exemption) certificate but the value measured in his sample exceeded the then limit for the drug.

Although he was later cleared by the Italian Olympic Committee, he was banned by the Court for Arbitration for Sport. Even though the Swiss-based court accepted that Petacchi had not intended to cheat, it did suggest he had shown insufficient care when using his asthma inhaler. However, his results from after October 2007 - when he raced again - were cancelled.

Petacchi was a powerful sprinter with a wide-ranging repertoire. He could win a sprint from the front or coming from behind, from long range or short distances, from the back seat of his own leadout train or from a cleverly detected spot on another team’s train. Petacchi, in short, knew and mastered all the tricks in the book!

He never loved the Belgian Classics but Petacchi ended his illustrious career by riding Paris-Roubaix for just the second time in his career.

“Paris-Roubaix closed an early part of the season in which I raced a lot, trying to be a protagonist in traditional appointments, such as Milano-San Remo, and in slightly more unusual competitions for me like Paris-Roubaix," Petacchi said.

"I approached all these races in a professional way, driven by the enthusiasm that the Galbusera family and the new sponsors gave to the team. I’m aware that I gave my best, as I always did in my 18 seasons as a professional cyclist. I always gave priority to the professional side of my job, honouring the efforts made by sponsors, such as Lampre, Merida and all the other partners of the team: I really thank them for the trust they gave me in these marvellous years.

"I want to say goodbye to all the cycling fans, considering that maybe there will be a chance to return someday to be part of the world that gave me so much, offering my experience to the new cycling generations. I’d like to thank the team, the sponsors, the management, the staff and athletes and everyone that supported me during my career, confirming by now my availability to support, when necessary, my mates and the team with advice and my experience."