McGee to leave FDJ

After a decade at French ProTour squad Française des Jeux Australian Brad McGee has decided to leave the squad at season's end. After recently abandoning the Vuelta a España, McGee said that his decision to leave the team was not easily made. "Not without a little stress I have been lately, as to how I would break the news with my boss, Marc Madiot, as to my intentions for 2008 and beyond," McGee wrote on his website www.bradleymcgee.com.

"There comes a time when things just don't click anymore," he added.

As it turned out McGee needn't have worried about breaking the news to Française des Jeux's team manager, with the squad also feeling it was time for the pair to part ways. "The feeling is mutual as we both realise the time has come to call it quits, reflect over the past 10 years, remember the good times, shake hands and move on - so we did," explained McGee.

McGee is yet to announce exactly what his future holds, but described his time at Française des Jeux as a positive experience. "I could write a novel on my years at FDJ, on the friendships formed, the victories celebrated, the tough times etc but I think the content smile I carry with me now and surely for the rest of my days will be evidence enough of exactly what this experience has meant to me," he concluded.

The highly decorated rider has battled with a recurring back injury for the past three season, which has frequently prevented the 31 year-old from taking part in events the squad contested. Included in his extensive palmarès is stage victories at both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France and Olympic gold at the 2004 Athens games in the 4000 metre team pursuit.