Liquigas-Cannondale's Ivan Basso of Italy looks on as he waits for the start of the 149-km Stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia, from San Vito di Cadore to Vedelago, in San Vito di Cadore May 24, 2012. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
PARIS (Reuters) - Former Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso ended his competitive career on Monday, a few days after recovering from testicular cancer.
"Every athlete knows that his light will not shine bright throughout his career. Inevitably, at some stage it will start dimming and it's the sign of a wise athlete to know when the moment has come to turn it off," Basso was quoted as saying in a statement from his Tinkoff-Saxo team, where he will retain a "managerial role".
