German 'cross champion Urban retiring

German cyclo-cross champion Malte Urban will ride his last race on New Year's Eve, before putting an end to his 'cross career. Urban, who turns 34 on Sunday, said that he may race a few more times on the road as an amateur, but added, "it is definitely over for me as a pro."

Urban rode for Team Coast (later Team Bianchi) from 2000 to 2005 and participated in the Giro d'Italia in 2002. He won the sprinter's jersey in the Volta a Catalunya in 2001 and the mountains jersey at the 2003 Bayern Rundfahrt.

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.