After 15 years in the pro peloton and a few more years as a top amateur, Ben King (Human Powered Health) has spent most of his 33 years racing bicycles. He announced Tuesday morning that the 2022 season will be his last as a professional cyclist.

"I made this decision two weeks ago, so I'm still processing it," King told Cycling News after publishing the news on social media." Sad, but also exciting: ...... And a little scary."

King is currently in Spain, his European base, preparing with Human Powered Health to compete in the Tour de Suisse, June 12-21.

Where will he race his last race as a professional ...... He said he doesn't know yet, but was looking forward to this year's schedule, which includes the USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, at the end of June and the Maryland Cycling Classic on September 4.

"I don't expect the Maryland Cycling Classic to be my last race, but it will be my last race in the US. It's close to home and it will be a special race," King told Cycling News.

"It's also my last USPRO championship, and it's great to be competing in my last nationals with the same organization, Human Powered Health, since my first USPRO with Kelly Benefitz in 2008. It was a very long time ago, but it remains one of my fondest memories in cycling.

King won a bronze medal at the U23 road race in Greenville, South Carolina, in 2010 at age 21, earning the stars and stripes jersey as the US Pro Road champion. At the time, he became the first rider under the age of 23 to win the US Pro Road Race championship.

He found success as a junior based in Charlottesville, Virginia, where, like many Americans, he hit the criterium scene, winning the state junior time trial championship at age 16 before joining Hot Tubes Development in 2006. He won a silver medal at the Junior Time Trial National Championships for 17-18 year olds. He began his journey as an elite rider and then as a professional.

The following season he jumped onto the World Tour, spending a decade with several programs and winning two stages at the Vuelta a España in 2018 while with Team Dimension Data. Both of his Vuelta stage wins were summit finishes, one in the Sierra de la Alfaguara and the other in La Covatilla.

Last season, he moved to Human Powered Health, where he took two podium finishes, including a stage win at the 2021 Volta a Portugal, and won the mountain prize at the opening race of the year, the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.

"These past few years with Human Powered Health have been two of the most enjoyable of my career. This is a special team with a rare and refreshing atmosphere thanks to the personalities of the management team and the people involved. I have raced with this team since I was a junior and ended up here. I am very grateful to be here and look forward to the races ahead."

Circuit Sports, which operates Human Powered Health as a professional team, was King's first professional organization, signing him as a freshman at Virginia Tech. The team's name at the time was Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast, and it was one of the best teams in the country.

"It's so cool that Ben started and finished his career with our team. It was fun to watch him compete and succeed in some of the biggest events in the world during that time. We were all so proud when he won a stage at the Vuelta. It's great to have him back on the team with that kind of experience," said Jonas Kearney, Performance Manager at Human Powered Health.

"The best way to develop young and inexperienced riders is to have someone who has seen it all mentor them. Ben was a huge help to us. He brought not only experience, but a lot of energy and enthusiasm. We will miss him

A soft-spoken, hard-nosed all-rounder, Ben wanted to spend more time with his family now that his wife had their second child. He also had other interests in mind besides the sport of cycling.

"The support I have received has been overwhelming and encouraging. Thank you all for making my journey so meaningful and I am open to any and all job offers for 2023."