The former T-Mobile leader from Rostock made his decision public in Hamburg on Monday, bringing to an end weeks of speculation over his future.

Ullrich's alleged implication in the Operacion Puerto blood doping scandal resulted in him being sacked from the T-Mobile team in summer, and he later withdrew his membership of the Swiss cycling federation, accusing them of undertaking "a media campaign" against him.

He has denied having any links to Eufemiano Fuentes, the Spanish doctor at the heart of the blood doping ring, and insisted he was retiring with a clean conscience, stating: "I never once cheated as a cyclist."

Ullrich had been linked with a return to cycling under the Austrian cycling federation, with the Tinkoff Credit Systems and Volksbank teams both reportedly interested in recruiting him.

Ullrich confirmed he will work with Volksbank next season as "an adviser, publicity figure and representative," adding:

"I couldn't live without cycling. It's my passion and my life."

He brings down the curtain on a professional career that took off when he finished runner-up to Bjarne Riis in the 1996 Tour de France, in only his second year as a professional.

A year later he went one better, winning the Tour ahead of team-mate Riis, an achievement that raised the profile of cycling in his home country.

He claimed Olympic gold in the road race in Syndey three years later, and was twice crowned world time trial champion.