Zabel calls time

Last year Zabel, 38, admitted to taking the banned substance erythropoietin in 1996.

"I had a lot of fun riding this year and could keep up with my international rivals. I don't know if I could do that for another season and think that this is the right moment to stop," the Milram rider said at the world championships.

"I want to thank my colleagues, the functionaries and everyone else with whom I have experienced so many wonderful moments in cycling. And also Team Milram, who have given me a lot of support in difficult times."

Zabel will ride his last race on October 3 in the Muensterland Giro in Germany. The men's road race at the world championships in Varese, north of Milan, takes place on Sunday.

He is among the most successful German cyclists, winning 12 stages of the Tour de France, the Milano-Sanremo four times, the Paris-Tours three times and the Amstel Gold Race.