Wichmann retires

Anke Wichmann of Team Columbia Women has announced her retirement after 25 years in cycling. "My inner voice told me that now was the time to take care of my professional future. Cycling has been the center of my life since I was eight years old. That is enough," the 33 year-old told the Lausitzer Rundschau.

Wichmann turned pro in 2005 with Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung before joining T-Mobile (now Columbia) in 2007. This year she won a stage in the Holland Ladies Tour.

Before turning pro, Wichmann rode for the German Army and considered retiring when she left the military. But she accepted the offer from the Equipe, and said, "It was worth it – in the last four years I have seen and experienced a lot."

She hopes to return to cycling as a physiotherapist, the profession in which she has already received her training. Wichmann had wanted to start directly with Team Columbia, "But they advised me to take a year away."

Wichmann has been co-commenting the women's races of the World Championships on German Eurosport TV in recent years.