Australian cyclist Matt Goss has today announced his retirement from competitive racing at the end of the 2016 season.

In a professional career spanning ten years Goss enjoyed early success winning both the madison and team pursuit events at the Junior Track World Championships in 2004. Entering the Senior ranks, he made his first appearance representing Australia at the 2005 Track Worlds in Los Angeles taking bronze, before revisiting in 2006 to take gold in the team pursuit. Goss went on to sign for Team CSC in 2007 becoming the youngest rider to race in the WorldTour at the age of twenty.

It didn’t take long for the young Australian to show his attributes as a sprinter winning a stage of The Tour of Britain in his first year as a professional. Along with his sprinting ability Goss also showed strength in the classics during the 08’-09’ seasons with podium finishes in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Gent-Wevelgem and winning Paris-Brussels.

Goss confirmed the attributes he showed by winning stages of the Giro d’Italia, GP Plouay, Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, the Tour Down Under and of course the biggest victory of his career Milan-San Remo in 2011, becoming the first Australian to do so.

Commenting on his career and the decision to retire Goss said, “I can look back at my career as a professional cyclist and be very happy and proud of what I’ve achieved. I’ve had the pleasure of winning some fantastic races, creating some great memories and meeting some amazing people across the globe. To represent my country at World Championship, Commonwealth and Olympic level has been an honour. The decision to retire is never something to be taken lightly but it is one I have put a lot of thought into. I don’t get the same buzz out of racing that I used to and the sport is too hard and competitive to do if you’re not jumping out of your skin to get on the start line at every opportunity. While I’m still relatively young I’m looking forward to the next chapter in my life and I can take some great memories with me like winning Milan San Remo and standing on the top step of the Tour de France podium with some great team mates after winning the Team Time Trial in Nice, all in front of family and friends.”

Affectionately known as ‘Gossy’ by his team mates and those closest to him, Goss played an integral part in ONE Pro Cycling since joining the British team in January 2016. With nine years racing at the highest level of the sport, Goss successfully fulfilled a mentor role not only for the younger development riders but the entire team. Sharing his knowledge and experience from time spent on the WorldTour Goss has helped to guide ONE Pro Cycling through their debut year as a Professional Continental team.

CEO and former England Cricketer Matt Prior commented, “Gossy has been a huge asset to the team this year and it has been an absolute pleasure to work with him. People will always look at pro sportsmen’s results on the bike or field of play but it is what they give behind the scenes that can be just as valuable. Matt has been a fantastic leader of our team culture and an important mentor to a number of our riders.

I’d like to congratulate Matt on an outstanding career which he can look back on with immense pride. I’d also like to wish him all the best for the next stage of his life and hope that we may work together again in the future.”