Blaudzun to retire at season's end

After 14 years as a professional rider, Danish racer Michael Blaudzun will bring an end to his career. The 35 year-old had no trouble making his decision and will say goodbye at the end of the 2008 season.

"I'm both happy and proud with what I've accomplished in my career as a professional rider, but I have no doubt that this will be my final season," said Blaudzun to team-csc.com on the day before he lines up with CSC for the Giro d'Italia team time trial. "I want to quit while I still feel able to be part of the action and at the same time I also feel that there are other things more important in my life now."

"There's no doubt that the thought of seeing my family more appeals to me a great deal and embarking on a new life with them outside of the sport," he said. "But that said I still feel 100% as a rider and I'm going to do everything in my power to end my career in style - for myself but also for my team."

Blaudzun is trying to make the Danish Olympic team, Blaudzun. "Apart from that my main goal for the remainder of the season is to finish off with a victory and being there for my team in general in the exact same way I feel, I have been for all those years with Team CSC."

Blaudzun won 13 pro races thus far during his career, including two Danish national road titles (1994, 2004) and three Danish national time trial titles (2001, 2003, 2005).