Italian sprinter and trusted road captain Daniele Bennati has announced his retirement, revealing that back pain from a fractured vertebra in April has forced him to end his professional career, which he served for 18 seasons.

Bennati, now 39, had hoped to play his final season with Movistar in 2020, but admitted his decision to retire in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport and on social media.

"'Dear Benna, you have to get off. A few days ago, my back told me so," Bennati wrote on Instagram, next to a photo of him steering a bike instead of a saddle.

"I never wanted to retire like this, but I have to accept it. I have fought so hard against the pain hoping for a recovery, as if I were sprinting toward the Arc de Triomphe, but it was impossible. I can't blame my back for supporting me through such a long and amazing career."

Bennati, who turned professional in Mapei in 2001, spent the early part of his career learning from Mario Cipollini at Acqua e Sapone and Domina Vacanze. His most success came in Lampre and then in Liquigas, where he won sprints at the Vuelta a España, the Giro d'Italia, and the Tour de France.

In 2007, he won two stages of the Tour de France, including the Champs Elysees, and two stages of the Vuelta a España; in 2008, he won three stages of the Giro d'Italia and the Ciclamino points jersey. Achilles tendon problems also affected his spring classics campaign, and Bennati was unable to take the classics.

As his sprint speed waned, Bennati became a trusted road captain for Alberto Contador at Tinkoff and for Nairo Quintana at Movistar. He also played a similar role for the Italian National Team, with his last victory coming at the 2016 Giro della Toscana, Memorial Alfredo Martini.

His last race was the Adriatica Ionica race in Italy, where he attempted a comeback despite back pain, but was forced to retire in the opening stage and faced difficulties with a comeback that ultimately proved impossible.

"I battled the cold of the mountains, the heat of the desert, the wind and the rain, and managed to win 54 races.

"It's time to get off the bike and start a new adventure, but whatever happens, whatever I do, my life will always contain something special with two wheels, and I am convinced that is the meaning of life for me. [Cycling is a metaphor for life. When you are in the saddle, it's just you and your bike. Cycling has taught me to never give up and to respect others."

Bennati admitted that he still has to plan for his future as a former player, but hinted that he would one day like to be a coach of the Italian national team.

In 2002, when Cipollini won the world title in Zolder, he was the reserve rider for the Italian team, and in the 2011 world championships, Mark Cavendish took the rainbow jersey after struggling in a hectic sprint finish in Copenhagen

"I'm still working on it.

"I'm not thinking about the future yet. I can say I want to stay in the sport," Bennati told La Gazzetta dello Sport. 'It would be great for me to become national coach, but that would be a long-term ambition. But I think it is premature to talk about this now."

"There have been contrasting moments in the Italian national team. There were years when things were going well, but when I was leader in Copenhagen I experienced a great disappointment. During my time in Tinkoff, I was able to return to the national team thanks to my new role as road captain, which Bjarne Riis helped me to develop my career.