David Millar has revealed that he feels like he "no longer fits in" with the world of professional cycling as he prepares to retire from the sport.
The 37-year-old, who has won 12 Grand Tour stages in his 17 year career, rode his final UCI-registered race at the World Championships last month, but will sign off from cycling at the Bec Hill Climb in Surrey tomorrow.
"The irony is I no longer fit in," Millar told the Guardian.
"The team has become an identity for a rider; before, a rider would transcend the team. It's become robotic. I liked the dysfunctionality, the cult-ness, the randomness. Obviously that led to the criminal aspect, the corruption, the madness, but I didn't know that when I fell in love with it.
"It's been a happy year but it's been a bit of a struggle, which is mainly why I'm stopping. I'm in a place where I can appreciate it."
Millar announced his retirement last October, but decided to commit to a final year in which he rode for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.
Joe Sharratt
