Fernando Gaviria, who finished fourth in the men's Omnium at the Rio Olympics, has announced that he will quit track in order to focus on his professional road racing career. The Etixx-Quick Step rider, who has won six races on the road this season, has published a  personal column on the eltiempo.com website.

Gaviria travelled to "Rio de Janeiro with a dream, with the goal of winning, but left empty-handed".

"When the points race ended and I knew I was fourth in the omnium at the Olympic Games, many things went through my mind. I was disappointed because I wanted the gold medal, because I was the world champion and wanted to prove it," Gaviria wrote. "When I took the plane, I said: ‘If I don’t win, I go; because if I lose, I’m out,’ and that's the decision I've made: I’m retiring from the track. Maybe someday I’ll ride a six-day, but I won’t carry on as I have been doing. I’m not looking at competing in or dreaming of another Olympics, I’m saying goodbye to the track. We will analyse that decision but now I want to focus on the road."

He hopes that Colombia will use the next four-year Olympic cycle to develop another track rider.

"I think the opportunity should be given to other young people, as it was once given to me. You have to find someone who can do better than me."