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FORMER British road cycling champion Ian Stannard has been forced to retire after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
The 33-year-old has spent the last decade with what is now Ineos Grenadiers, having been a founding member of Team Sky back in 2010.
The Wilmslow-based rider ends his career with seven wins, including back-to-back victories at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2014 and 2015 and stages of the Tour of Britain in 2016 and 2018. The 2012 British road race champion also took a notable third place at Paris-Roubaix in 2016.
Stannard was first diagnosed with arthritis 12 months ago. He has appeared only once since the 2020 season resumed in late July — withdrawing from the Tour of Poland on stage four.
“It’s disappointing to have to stop like this but it is clearly the right decision for my health and my family,” Stannard said.
“I started to hope that I could manage the problem during lockdown, but as soon as I returned to racing I knew that my body wouldn’t be able to perform at any level anymore.”
