Niki Terpstra has announced that she will end her road racing career at the end of the 2022 season.

The 38-year-old Dutchman has been a member of the professional peloton for 16 seasons since turning pro with Milram in 2007.

Terpstra announced the news in a post to Twitter on Tuesday, saying that while his involvement as a rider is coming to an end, cycling is not over.

"I have decided to retire from professional road cycling after this season. While I have the option to continue, I feel it is time to close this great chapter of my career and focus on new challenges both on and off the bike." [While I started riding bikes at the age of eight, I never imagined that one day I would have the chance to be part of a professional peloton and compete in iconic races. Being able to win monuments like Paris-Roubaix and the Tour de Flanders is still a shock to me and my family.

"I can't wait to finish this season on a high note. More on that later! I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career, and I am so grateful for all the support I have received.

Terpstra, who has competed in several gravel events, including the UCI Gravel World Series, said that racing is not completely over and that he is looking to move to gravel.

"But listen, I'm not done cycling yet. Of course I'll keep racing.

The Dutchman's road career began and ended with a four-year stint with Milram and TotalEnergies.

During his time with the Belgian team, he established himself as a top rider in the cobbled classics. Career highlights include solo victories at Paris-Roubaix (2014) and the Tour of Flanders (2018), wins at the Eneco Tour and E3 Harelbeke, as well as two victories each at Dwars door Hlaanderen, Le Samyn and the Tour of Qatar.

The veteran will conclude his career in September and October with one-day races in Belgium, including the GP Wallonie, Primus Classic, and Famennes Ardennes Classic.

Terpstra is the most recent of a number of high-profile riders to announce their retirement at the end of this season. He joins Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Kazakstan), Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo Visma), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal), and Richie Porte (Ineos Grenadier), among others, who will be road racing this winter. We will say goodbye.