Track rider Wolff retires

Olympic team sprint gold medallist Rene Wolff announced his retirement from competitive cycling on Monday, citing a lack of international success during the past two years and early elimination from this year's World Track Championships as his reasons for the decision. The 29 year-old German had wanted to adopt a new training regime for the Beijing Olympics but said he was unable to reach an agreement with the German cycling federation (BDR).

"With my physical condition, I cannot develop myself under the BDR's concept," said Wolf, who was riding for German track squad Sprintteam Stadtwerke Erfurt. "My performance is miles away from the world's best. Under these circumstances, nothing will change before the Olympics."

Besides his Olympic successes, Wolff won the world team sprint title in 2003 followed by the individual gold in 2005. He will now finish his college studies of literature and philosophy, but did not give any concrete future career plans.