Russia's former Giro d'Italia and Vuelta winner Denis Menchov has announced his retirement from cycling at the age of 35.
Menchov, Russia's best stage rider of the past decade, winning the Tour of Spain in 2005 and 2007 and the 2009 Giro, missed this year's Italian race with a knee injury.
He was less successful in the Tour de France.
He finished fourth in 2008 but was promoted to third after third-placed Austrian Bernhard Kohl was disqualified for doping.
In the 2010 Tour, Menchov came third overall but ended up in second spot after Spaniard Alberto Contador was stripped of his victory for doping.
