‘Chechu’ Rubiera to retire

Jose Luis ‘Chechu’ Rubiera will retire from cycling at the end of the month, the RadioShack team announced.

Rubiera, 37, spent five years of his long career riding in support of American Lance Armstrong and achieved individual success with two stage victories in the Giro d’Italia, two top ten finishes in the Giro, as well as the Vuelta a España.

“I think it’s time now to enjoy my family and spend more time at home,” Rubiera said in a release issued by the team. “I consider myself very lucky to have had the good fortune to do what I liked best during all these years.

“I felt the love of many fans around me and I was proud to have such support with such a modest record.”

Rubiera will line up for this Sunday’s Giro de Lombardia and his final race will be the Criterium in Oviedo, Spain, on October 30.