Doppmann retires

Swiss rider Priska Doppmann of the Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team has announced that she will retire from the sport at the end of the season. The 37-year-old from Zug made the transition from triathlon to cycling in 1998, and rode her first of eight World Championships in 1999.

Doppmann, a time trial specialist, represented her country in three Olympic Games, and placed top ten in the Athens time trial (9th) and at the Beijing Games, where she placed seventh in the road race and eighth in the time trial.

At World Championships, she finished a total of five times in the top ten. In 2006 she was edged out of the podium and took the fourth place in the time trial. Her best results also include two World Cup victories, as well as two team overall World Cup victories and two stage-races overall victories.

"I had a long and awesome time in women's cycling," said Doppmann. Her results in Beijing allow her to end her career on a high note. "[This] means a lot for me and capped my career.

"All my great results and success would not have been possible without the support of several persons like my coach and partner Thomas Campana, my entire family, all the team members and staff around Swiss Olympic and Swiss Cycling as well as my sponsors, supplier and patrons. I would like the say "thank you" to all of them for their tireless support."

Doppmann will continue to work in the cycling industry. In the future, she will be more involved in her own business - the company Cycling United Bikes & Components AG - which she founded in 2007.

Beside this engagement, Doppmann will be also involved in the planning and organization of her cycling Team Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling, which will try again to call attention with great performances in the cycling sports in this year's World Championships and as well in the season 2009.