Fabian Cancellara has decided to end his 2015 season after a virus forced him to drop out of the Tour of Spain with stomach problems. Cancellara was poised to make his third come-back in one season, after breaking two vertebrae in E3 Prijs Harelbeke and once more during the Tour de France, wearing the yellow jersey.

“Physically I could probably go on and race the World Championships. But it’s the mind that controls the body, and I don’t have the will to go through the whole come-back thing once more after the rollercoaster that this season has been. It's a matter of focus. Dealing with a serious injury during the course of one season is not easy, and I have had to do it twice already this year. It’s mentally very challenging and it drains your energy. I don't have batteries anymore for a third come-back in one season," says a vintage Cancellara.

“Since I returned home from the Vuelta I have been questioning myself a lot. It's more than just a lack of motivation. It goes deeper than that. It feels impossible to load the batteries enough to break through that wall in your head.

"The team and Trek were very supportive for me and there were constantly different scenarios on the table that would lead to Richmond. But in the end we all agreed that it would be better to end the season here and now, take a break and then start focusing on new goals.

"I’m sad not to be racing the Worlds, of course. The TTT is an important race for our team and everybody knows how much I love racing for Switzerland. I'm sorry for the TFR boys. They did a great job yesterday in Alberta and it's always a great experience to do a TTT at this level. I also feel sad for the Swiss team. Each year is always a lot of fun to be a team for one occasion, I love that. The Worlds next year don't suit me very well, I'm not a sprinter. This could have been my last chance, but then again, the way this season is going for me, not really.

“I want to thank Luca (Guercilena), Trek’s senior management in the US, the team at Swiss Cycling and also my family for all the support. As an athlete you can feel very much alone when bad luck strikes, but I am very happy to have all these people supporting me year round."