Aussie cycling star Ewan announces shock retirement

Paris: Australia s five time Tour de France stage winner Caleb Ewan announced his retirement aged just 30 on Tuesday declaring the past two seasons ha...

Paris: Australia's five-time Tour de France stage winner Caleb Ewan announced his retirement aged just 30 on Tuesday declaring the past two seasons had "taken a significant toll on my relationship with the sport".

Ewan, who recorded 65 career victories including 11 across the Tour de France, Giro and Vuelta, had begun his first season with Ineos in good shape.

The combative sprint specialist had won the first stage of the Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali and then the second stage of the Tour of the Basque Country in April.

However, on Tuesday he brought down the curtain on his 11 year career.

"After much thought, I've decided to retire from professional cycling, effective immediately," he said in a statement on the British team's website.