Thor Hushovd completed his last race as a professional on Saturday. The Norwegian hung up his wheels after taking part in the Primus Classic Impanis-Van Petegem, won by his BMC Racing team-mate Greg Van Avermaet.
The 36 year old closes out a 15-year tenure in the professional peloton, during which time he amassed an enviable set of victories, including some of the most sought-after prizes in the sport: not least, twice winning the Tour de France points classification (in 2005 and 2009) and taking the road race world championship title in 2010.
Along the way, he's won stages in all three Grand Tours, including an impressive haul of 10 stages of the Tour. Other high-profile wins include Ghent-Wevelgem in 2006 and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2009... and a stage of the 2011 Tour of Britain.
In recent years, Hushovd has been troubled with illness and injury. He's suffered recurring effects from mononucleosis since 2012, and has had to sit out what would have been his final race - the 2014 world championships road race - due to crash injury.
"It is a strange feeling and it is kind of sad in one way," said Hushovd. "There is a lot of emotion. But I am really in a good place and proud of my career. It has been a great 15 years."
Hushovd first made his mark by winning the under-23 world time trial title in 1998, but wasn't signed to a professional team until 2000, when he joined Credit Agricole. The French outfit would be his home for eight years, and the sight of the 'Mighty Thor' thundering across the line with arms aloft in Credit Agricole's distinctive green kit became a familiar one.
A change to the Cervelo Test Team followed in 2009, and then to Garmin-Cervelo in 2011. Since 2012, Hushovd has ridden for the BMC Racing team.
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THOR HUSHOVD
(Image credit: Watson)
A fresh-faced Hushovd started his career at Credit Agricole in 2000
THOR HUSHOVD IN THE 2004 CRITERIUM INTERNATIONAL
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Riding in the 2004 Criterium International
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In one of the most bizarre incidents in the Tour de France's history, Hushovd suffered a deep cut to his arm from a large cardboard hand waved by a spectator during the 2006 race. To add insult to injury, he also lost the race lead
THOR HUSHOVD LEADS AN ESCAPE DURING STAGE ELEVEN OF THE TOUR OF SPAIN
(Image credit: Graham Watson)
Leading an escape during stage 11 of the 2006 Vuelta a Espana, the year he won the race's points classification
THOR HUSHOVD WINS STAGE THREE OF THE 2007 TOUR DE FRANCE
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Winning stage three of the 2007 Tour de France
THOR HUSHOVD WINS STAGE TWO OF THE 2008 TOUR DE FRANCE
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Not sure the tongue helped, but Hushovd won stage two of the 2008 Tour de France
THOR HUSHOVD CHASES IN THE OMLOOP HET NIEUWSBLAD
Riding for Cervelo during the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2010
THOR HUSHIVD WINS THE ELITE MENS WORLD ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hushovd wins the 2010 World Championship road race
THOR HUSHOVD
(Image credit: Watson)
Slightly ill-advised 'Thor' wig for the 2011 Tour de France team presentation
THOR HUSHOVD ON STAGE SEVEN OF THE 2011 TOUR DE FRANCE
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Hushovd with mobile phone during the 2011 Tour de France
THOR HUSHOVD WINS STAGE SIXTEEN OF THE 2011 TOUR DE FRANCE
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No 'curse of the rainbow jersey' for Hushovd, as he wins stage 16 of the Tour de France in 2011
Thor Hushovd wins stage three of the 2013 Tour of Poalnd
(Image credit: Graham Watson)
Taking the win on stage three of the Tour of Poland in 2013
Thor Hushovd after a crash in the 2014 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
(Image credit: Watson)
Suffering after a crash in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Thor Hushovd in the 2014 Paris-Roubaix
(Image credit: Graham Watson)
How we'll remember Hushovd: Grit and determination during 2014 Paris-Roubaix
