Lithuania's Diana Ziliute has called to a close her illustrious six-year professional career after she announced her retirement today in Italy.
A prolific sprinter, Ziliute's palmares includes stage victories at the Tour of the Ardeche, Giro della Toscana and La Route de France, as well as the Lithuanian road and individual time trial titles. She has also claimed multiple stage wins at the women's Tours of France and Italy, the Grande Boucle Féminine and Giro d'Italia Femminile.
Her final season included the overall titles at the Trophée d'Or Féminin and Giro della Toscana Int. Femminile, and culminated with a fifth place finish at the World Championship road race in Mendrisio, Switzerland.
The 33-year-old will now turn her attention to the role of sports director with Italy's Safi-Pasta Zara, the squad with which Ziliute spent her entire racing career.
Ziliute's career will be honoured in a ceremony at the Madonna di Ghisallo near Bellagio, Italy, Sunday.
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