Christian Nies has retired as a professional cycling rider, ending a 17-year career and immediately moving to a staff position at Ineos Grenadier.

The German, who will turn 40 in March, spent 10 seasons with the British team in its second year after moving from Milram in 2011. He will be in charge of the team's racing and performance departments.

Nees, who has competed in 19 Grand Tours throughout his career, was part of four Grand Tour winning teams during his time with Ineos; he assisted Bradley Wiggins in the 2011 Tour de France, the team's first GT win, and the 2017 Tour, Vuelta a España, and the 2018 Giro d'Italia, where he assisted Chris Froome.

"Seventeen years is a long time, and to turn pro at 39 is not something many people can say," Nies said in an Ineos press release. But I'm really proud of what I've accomplished."

"I'm really proud of what I've accomplished.

"Winning a Grand Tour with the team--being there with Bradley in 2012 and alongside Froome at the start of the 2017 Tour in Germany. I have a lot of good memories, not to mention 10 years with one of the best sports teams in the world.

"It was always my goal to run three Grand Tours in a row in one year. I wanted to see what that would be like. In the end, it wasn't three times in a year with Froome, but I did compete in the Grand Tours in a row, and I won them all."

"It was a great experience."

"It was a great experience."

"It was really special. I was the only one with him in those three Grand Tours. I love what I do and I love that one day I can look back and tell my grandkids about it."

Nies has his best results, winning the German Championships in 2010 and the Rund um Köln and Bayern Rundfahrt in 2008. His best result in a Grand Tour was 19th (Milram) in the 2009 Tour de France.

"On a personal level, it was a great honor to be German national champion in 2010 and to wear that jersey for a year. I won my home race, Rund um Köln, and was able to win the Bayern Rundfahrt as well. Now is a good time for many adventures, but I will continue to ride my bike. I love riding and training

"I will stay with the team next year. Initially, it will be a year of trying new things from different angles off the bike and thinking about how I can contribute to the team's success.