Giovanni Visconti (Bardiani CSF Faizane) announced the abrupt end of his career on Wednesday, writing on Twitter that he has suffered on and off the bike for months.

The Italian started the Tirreno-Adriatico this week, but failed to finish Tuesday's second stage, which was his last.

The 39-year-old has racked up 37 wins in his 18-year professional career, including two stages of the 2013 Giro d'Italia and three Italian national titles.

His most recent success came at the 2019 Giro della Toscana, where he defeated Egan Bernal in a successful breakaway. He also led the mountains at the 2020 Giro d'Italia, finishing second to Jonathan Caicedo on the Mount Etna stage, but was hit by a team car the next day.

A one-day race specialist and avid climber, Visconti raced for top teams such as Milram, Quick Step, and Bahrain-Merida, but on the World Tour he was a member of the Movistar team from 2012 to 2016.

In 2012, Visconti was banned for three months and fined €10,000 for working with banned trainer Michele Ferrari. He admitted working with Lance Armstrong's doping co-conspirator, but claimed he only received training advice.

"My career has not been a simple one, but this is not the time to think about various "ifs" and "buts" and above all that is not the purpose of this letter ....... You see what I have been saying for years? I have said that I don't want to be the kind of racer who drags his bike around after his career is over," Visconti wrote.

"I certainly wasn't a champion, but I was a good rider. I just won what my body and my head let me win, and looking back I have only regrets.