It’s official. Alessandro Petacchi has formalized his retirement. « Ale Jet » added according to Tuttobiciweb that the 20th stage of the Giro d’Italia last month was the final act of a professional cycling career.

"I’m still not well. I haven’t managed to shake off the virus that put me out of the Giro d’Italia on the Colle delle Finestre so it wasn’t right to take on a trip like that if I wasn’t going to be able to put in an honourable performance. I’m still Alessandro Petacchi after all", he explained. "I haven’t been on a bike since June 9 and if you want to know everything, I’ve already hung it in the garage with the wheels off."

"I won’t go out on the bike for a while, because I feel tired and without motivation. For the first time in my life, I feel sick of it, I really want to take a break mentally. In life there are moments when you feel clearly what you have to do. My moment has probably arrived now."

"I raced a lot, I won a lot, and now I don’t really want to keep riding without objectives. Now I know that’s right to do what I’ve decided to do, and I’m doing it without regrets."

The Italian sprinter has won 48 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010. He also won the classics Milan-San Remo in 2005 and Paris-Tours in 2007. In total, he earned 183 victories.