American Joe Dombrowski announced Tuesday that he is ending his career as a professional cyclist; the 32-year-old has raced for Astana Kazakstan for the past two seasons, but the team did not renew his contract for 2024.

"After much thought, I would like to announce that I am taking the wheels off as a professional cyclist," Dombrowski wrote on Twitter.

"Thanks to all who played an active role in this journey. It's been a wild ride."

Dombrowski, who won the 2012 under-23 Giro d'Italia, turned pro with Team Sky in 2013 and moved to the Cannondale/EF Education First team two seasons later to race for five seasons.

He then spent two years with UAE Team Emirates, winning a stage at the Giro d'Italia in 2021. His highest overall finish in a Grand Tour was 12th in the 2019 Giro.

"After 11 years and 14 Grand Tours, I feel fortunate to have made this amazing journey, a dream of mine since I was young," Dombrowski wrote.

"When you become a pro, your daily life consists of training blocks, training camps, and race days. It's only when you look back on it all that you find the words to describe the context."

"I have had the honor of running for a top team, competing on the biggest stage in the world, and being teammates with some of the true legends of the sport. [Mark Cavendish, Taddei Pogachar, Bradley Wiggins, Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali, etc.

Dombrowski spent most of his career based in Nice, France, where he wrote I lived in a foreign country and learned to speak a foreign language. I developed friendships with people from all over the world.

"And cycling gave me insight into how the best in their field rise to the top and the work it takes to stay there. All of this gave me a unique perspective and an education that money could never buy.

Dombrowski did not specify his plans for the future, but he did say, "Part of my success as a cyclist came from doing what I loved to do. Cycling also taught me that the people who go the furthest in life often love what they do and know where they want to go"

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"I feel fortunate to have had a number of distinct interests during my rider years. I look forward to exploring all of my interests and soon it will be time to write another letter to myself."