Thor Hushovd retires: his career in pictures

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.

A fresh-faced Hushovd started his career at Credit Agricole in 2000

Riding in the 2004 Criterium International

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

Leading an escape during stage 11 of the 2006 Vuelta a Espana, the year he won the race's points classification

Winning stage three of the 2007 Tour de France

Not sure the tongue helped, but Hushovd won stage two of the 2008 Tour de France

Riding for Cervelo during the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2010

Hushovd wins the 2010 World Championship road race

Slightly ill-advised 'Thor' wig for the 2011 Tour de France team presentation

Hushovd with mobile phone during the 2011 Tour de France

No 'curse of the rainbow jersey' for Hushovd, as he wins stage 16 of the Tour de France in 2011

Taking the win on stage three of the Tour of Poland in 2013

Suffering after a crash in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

How we'll remember Hushovd: Grit and determination during 2014 Paris-Roubaix

Thor Hushovd's great hits: wins since 2000

2013

Tour of Austria; stage three

Tour of Poland; stage three

Tour of Poland; stage five

Tour du Haut Var; stage one

Norwegian road race champion

Arctic Race of Norway; stage two

Arctic Race of Norway; stage four

Arctic Race of Norway; overall

Arctic Race of Norway; points classification

Tour of Beijing; stage one

2011

Tour de France; stage 13

Tour de France; stage 16

Tour de Suisse; stage four

Tour of Britain; stage four

2010

Norwegian road race champion

Tour de France; stage three

World road race champion

Vuelta a Espana; stage six

2009

Tour de France; stage six

Tour de France; green jersey

Tour of California; stage three

Tour du Poitou Charentes et de la Vienne; stage 4

Tour of Missouri; stage three

Tour of Missouri; sprint classification

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

2008

Tour de France; stage two

Paris-Nice; prologue

Paris-Nice; points classification

Tour of the Mediterranean; stage one

Tour of Catalonia; prologue

Tour of Catalonia; stage one

Tour of Catalonia; points classification

Four Days of Dunkirk; stage six

2007

Tour de France; stage four

Giro d’Italia; stage seven

2006

Tour de France; stage 20

Tour de France; prologue

Vuelta a España; stage six

Vuelta a España; points classification

Dauphiné Libéré; stage seven

Tirenno-Adriatico; stage four

Tour of Catalonia; stage three

Tour of Catalonia; points classification

Four Days of Dunkirk; points classification

Ghent-Wevelgem

2005

Tour de France; green jersey

Vuelta a España; stage five

Dauphiné Libéré; stage two

Tour of Catalonia; stage seven

Tour of Catalonia; points classification

National time trial champion

2004

Tour de France; stage eight

Dauphiné Libéré; stage one

Coupe de France

Classic Haribo

Grand Prix de Denain

Tour de Vendée

National time trial champion

National road race champion

2003

Dauphiné Libéré; stage two

Vuelta a Castilla y Leon; stage one

2002

Tour de France; stage 18

Tour de l’Ain; stage two

2001

Tour de France; team time trial

Tour de Normandie; overall

Tour de Normandie; points classification

Tour of Sweden; overall

Paris-Corrèze

Thor Hushovd's final race this weekend

Norwegian Thor Hushovd retires after this Saturday's GP Impanis-Van Petegem, concluding an illustrious career

Thor Hushovd to retire at end of 2014

Norwegian former World Champion and double Tour de France green jersey winner Thor Hushovd will quit at end of season