Isle of Man cyclist Ben Swift has announced he is to retire at the end of the season.

The 38-year-old Onchan resident will call time on his professional career after November’s Paris-Tours.

Confirming his retirement, Swift took to social media to say: 'It's been 18 great years, and never really in my wildest dreams thought I'd have such a long career and a successful career along the way.

'Having grown up as a kid, it was just a dream - it was always something that I never really thought would happen, but I never saw myself doing anything else, you know?'

'I still love riding my bike. I love the training, I love the racing, and I think I decided to finish this year because I still feel like I'm at a high enough level to enjoy the racing.

'There's still plenty of racing left this year. I've got Tour of Britain, which is obviously my home race. It was my first technically, professional race - I think it was only right to go back there and do Tour of Britain.

'After that I've got a few more in Italy, which is quite nice. It feels like full circle - that's where the whole journey started.

'We lived in Quarrata in Tuscany in my first six years [as a cyclist]. I've got a real strong connection to Italy, so I think that really goes quite nicely finishing there.

'And then on to Paris-Tours, so a big one to finish with. I want to finish on my own terms, on a high, enjoy my racing and just make the most of it.'