Germany claimed the gold medal in the mixed relay team time trial at the world championships as Tony Martin retired in style at the UCI Road World Championships in Flanders.
Martin, riding with Lisa Brennauer, Lisa Klein, Mieke Kroeger, Nikias Arndt and Max Walscheid, clocked 50 minutes and 49 seconds over 44.5 km between Knokke Heist and Bruges.
The Netherlands came home second, 13 seconds off the pace with Italy taking the bronze medal 38 seconds behind the Germans after beating Switzerland by a few hundredths of a second.
"It's the best possible end. Leaving cycling with a gold medal is a dream for me and I'm really thankful to the team, especially the women who made a difference today," said Martin, who is hanging up his bike after a 15-year professional career.
Martin, 36, won four individual time trial titles in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016, as well as five Tour de France stages.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Ireland's Sam Bennett withdrew from the men's road race which is due to take place on Sunday.
With the 2020 Tour de France green jersey winner absent, the Irish team for the race will include Eddie Dunbar, Rory Townsend and Ryan Mullen.
