Gerrans brought an end to his professional cycling career, putting an end to 16 year stint in the top ranks of the sport. The 38-year-old Victorian said in an open letter published by BMC that his passion for the sport isn't what it used to be.
"Cycling has been a huge part of my life for a long period of time," said Gerrans," through which I have met a lot of fantastic people, many of whom will remain life-long friends. I am very proud of what I have achieved during my career and I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in my journey.
"Although I feel that I am still performing at a good level physically, my passion for the sport is not what it used to be. Professional cycling is too hard unless you are able to commit wholeheartedly. I am really happy to be able to walk away on my own terms and feel that the end of this season is the right time to transition to a new phase in my life."
Gerrans is the only Australian to win two of cycling's monuments, Milan San Remo in 2012 and Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2014. The man affectionately known as 'Gerro' is also among only seven Australian riders to wear the yellow jersey as leader in the Tour de France.
The four-time winner of the Tour Down Under gave a few hints about what might be in store for his future, also saying that he would proritise spending time with his wife and young family.
"With regards to my future, I want to emphasise that I am not retiring, I'm changing careers.
I hope to maintain an involvement with the sport in some capacity, however initially I am motivated to gain some experience and develop my skills in a new area."
Gerrans' career will likely go down as one of the best for an Australian, with his European success combined with Australian dominance during the summer season at local events. The Victorian signed off on his career with a message of thanks to those that had provided support for him during his career.
"Finally, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all the supporters of cycling, sponsors, teams, teammates, friends and family that have made my time as a professional cyclist such an unforgettable chapter of my life."
