Vasyl Kiryienka, the 38-year-old Belarusian who won the 2015 UCI Time Trial World Championships, has retired from professional cycling due to recurring "heart problems," according to an announcement today from Team Ineos.

Kiryienka was diagnosed with an unspecified "heart problem" in March and missed the early part of last season, but returned to competition at the Tour of Normandy in late April, finishing the season with 56 races, including 18 stages of the Vuelta a España before abandoning the Spanish Grand Tour

Today's announcement.

In today's announcement, Team Ineos announced only that Kirijenka had made the decision "following medical advice regarding a heart problem," but the team did not provide any further details regarding Kirijenka's heart health.

Although his time trial victory at the Europeans in June was the last of his 18 professional wins, Kirijenka was best known as the figurehead of Team Sky (later Team Ineos) in front of the peloton, riding for hours to hold off a breakaway group for the leader. This stoic rider participated in 20 Grand Tours and was part of the overall winning team five times.

"It's a shame for Killy and for the team. He's a true one-off and one of the greatest team riders of his generation." When the breakaway riders looked back and saw Killy in an open shirt chasing at the front of the peloton, they would have known their days were numbered."

"He had a unique style of producing immense power for hours on end while keeping his upper body unwavering. The only thing that changed in his metronomic endeavors was that his grimace would grow louder as he dug to the bottom of his energy, giving his all for the team, day after day."

Kiryienka's personal achievements include three stage wins at the Giro d'Italia, including a stage win at the Vuelta a España in 2013 and a solo win at Sestriere in 2011. He also won the Route du Sud in 2011, the Chrono de Nations in 2015 and 2016, and the GP Città di Camaiore in 2008 as overall winner.

"It's a really sad day for me, but the right decision based on the advice I got from the medical team," Kiryienka said. I've had a great career and I've enjoyed every minute of racing with this team. It has been an incredible journey and I am very grateful for all the support I have received throughout my career."

Kiryienka spent seven seasons with Brailsford's British program, signing in 2013 when the team was Sky Pro Cycling. Prior to that, she was with Movistar and Caisse d'Epargne in Spain.