Veteran racer Luke Rowe has announced his retirement at the end of this season, ending a 13-year professional career.

Welshman Luke Rowe has been a member of Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiers since turning pro in 2012, specializing in cobbled classics.

The 34-year-old had planned to retire after the 2025 season, but has moved up his retirement date to after this season. He said that his crash at the E3 Saxo Classic and the resulting injuries helped him make this decision.

"I've had a great career and I have no regrets at all," he said. But the last year and a half has been an ordeal in many ways. Given the crash and the resulting injuries, I felt now was the right time to retire and return home to Wales to spend time with my family."

He hopes to get back on the bike before his career is over, adding that his final race is targeted to be his home race at the Tour of Britain (September 1-8).

"Right now I'm focused on recovering from this injury and working with the team and the doctors to get back on the bike. I still have a lot of season left and hope to race again in 2024."

"The fans around the world are always great, but to finish my career racing in England in front of my home fans is something special."

Lowe has two professional wins (stage wins at the 2012 Tour of Britain and the 2017 Herald Sun Tour, respectively) and top-10 finishes at Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders.

His greatest achievement, however, is as road captain and domestique, leading his teammates to victory in the biggest races on the calendar.

Of his 10 Grand Tour appearances, Lowe has contributed to a total of five Tour de France victories, three by Chris Froome and one each by Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal. He also contributed to Michał Kwiatkowski's victory in Milan-San Remo and Dylan van Baarle's victory in Paris-Roubaix.

"I have a lot of great memories and I love every part of being a professional cyclist. There are so many people who have played an important role in my career."

"I want to thank my family and friends, of course, but also everyone at Ineos Grenadiers. I was incredibly lucky to have spent 13 years as a professional rider with one team, a team that supported me 100% through good times and bad.

"Their commitment and support for their athletes is world class and is part of the reason I have never wanted to race for any other team.

Ineos Grenadiers CEO John Allert paid tribute to Lowe both on and off the bike, calling him "a key part of what makes the team special" and praising him for "passing on his wisdom, experience and tactical knowledge" to the team's younger athletes.

"Luke is a big part of what makes this team special. Luke is a big part of what makes this team special. He's been here since the beginning and has played a big role in some of the biggest wins and most iconic moments in the team's history," said Arrato. [Luke is] not only a fearless, feisty, strong racer who can read and control a race like few others, but he is also a great personality and teammate off the bike. For the past few years he has been a mentor to our younger riders, generously sharing his wisdom, experience, and tactical knowledge.

"We will miss Luke, but he will always be a Grenadier. I think I speak for everyone who has worked with Luke, thank you for all you have done and good luck for the rest of the season.