Intro:

Former Tour de France winner Andy Schleck announces his retirement from cycling at a press conference in Luxembourg on Thursday (9th October).

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Andy Schleck:

"Some thoughts came in mind. What I am going to do with my knee, what I am going to do with the rest of my life and of my cycling career. I was not good at the time, mentally, because I had to take a decision that (long pause), that cycling is finished for me now, at least on the professional side. So I will end my career end of this year."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Andy Schleck

"I kept on trying and training and physio and everything. Then the doctor also told me there is nothing more he can do right now. My ligaments are fine, they are healing properly. But the cartilage under my kneecap, I almost have no cartilage under my kneecap and that's what caused the pain. Then you consider your options. What were my options? I can maybe try but I will not succeed anyway, I will just be a huge disappointment."