Mitchelton-Scott's Michael Albasini, who plans to retire as a professional athlete after the 2020 season, will take over as Swiss national team coach from his father Marcello in January 2021.

"It's a well-timed challenge for me," Michael Albasini said Wednesday on the Swiss Cycling Federation's website. 'I look forward to passing on the knowledge I have gained in over 20 seasons of cycling.'

Albasini will be part of the elite Swiss men's team competing in the world championship road race this Sunday, with the team riding for recent Tour de France stage winner Marc Hirsch. [39-year-old Albasini has spent the past nine seasons with Mitchelton-Scott, turning pro with Phonak in 2003, and then with Liquigas and HTC.

During that time, he has won 30 races, including overall victories at the Tour of Austria, Tour of Britain, and Volta a Catalunya, as well as home road wins, including three stage wins at the Tour de Suisse and seven stage wins at the Tour de Romandie.

Marcello will continue to work alongside his son next year, offering help and advice; from 2019 onwards, former professional Rubens Bertogliati is working as Marcello Albasini's assistant at the Swiss Federation, while the 41-year-old finishes his studies. He plans to leave the job to Marcello while he finishes his studies, after which he will rejoin Michael as his assistant in 2022.

"The father-son story is certainly a special one, but it's nothing unusual for me," he said. That said, having him by my side during the transition and being able to benefit from his experience is definitely a huge advantage."