At the age of 30, Martyn Irvine has decided to end his career. The Irishman who was active both on the road and on the track, has struggled to get back to his old level and will now end his travails. Irvine achieved his greatest success at the 2013 Track World Championships in minsk where he won the scratch race and was second in the individual pursuit.

“I’m a bit older these days and I’ve had a few bumps and knocks and broken a few things. And the last year, anyone who follows cycling will know that I have been under-performing,” Irvine told RTÉ Sport.

"Physically, I’m still there, I’m not any weaker and I can still do the job but honestly my head is just drifting off, and the way I used to race, it was tearing me apart and I don’t like doing that anymore. For the last six months, it’s been creeping into my mind and I think I just bit the bullet and just made the decision, and I’m happy about it. I’m not scared stiff; it just feels right."

Irvine also won medals at the European Championships, at World Cups and the Commonwealth Games. On the road, he got a stage victory in the An Post Ras (2.2) and a silver and bronze medal at the Irish Time Trial Championships. Irvine rode for UnitedHealthcare for two seasons. In 2015 he had a contract with the continental Madison Genesis team.