German 'cross champion Urban retiring

German cyclo-cross champion Malte Urban will ride his last race on New Year's Eve, before putting an end to his 'cross career. Urban, who turns 34 on Sunday, said that he may race a few more times on the road as an amateur, but added, "it is definitely over for me as a pro."

Urban rode for Team Coast (later Team Bianchi) from 2000 to 2005 and participated in the Giro d'Italia in 2002. He won the sprinter's jersey in the Volta a Catalunya in 2001 and the mountains jersey at the 2003 Bayern Rundfahrt.

He was German 'cross champion in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2008. "I won't defend this title," he told the Vlothoer Anzeiger. The race in Eickum, Germany, on New Years is his last 'cross race. "It it good that I can say myself when it is over."

Urban will then take up a job with the bicycle firm Focus.

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Kirsten Frattini is an honours graduate of Kinesiology and Health Science from York University in Toronto, Canada. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's WorldTour. She has worked in both print and digital publishing, and started with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. Moving into a Production Editor's role in 2014, she produces and publishes international race coverage for all men's and women's races including Spring Classics, Grand Tours, World Championships and Olympic Games, and writes and edits news and features. As the Women's Editor at Cyclingnews, Kirsten also coordinates and oversees the global coverage of races, news, features and podcasts about women's professional cycling.