THE five times Tour de France champion, Miguel Indurain, is likely to retire this year according to sources close to his Banesto team.

Indurain (32), whose contract expires in December failed to record a sixth successive win in the Tour this year but won gold in the time trial at the Atlanta Olympics.

Close friends have been trying to persuade In dub rain to change his mind, but it is believed the rider will announce his retirement in a few days.

"Miguel is a honest man. His engine is as powerful as ever and he is only 32 years old, Francis Lafargue, his manager, said. "But if he feels he can no, longer be his former sell, he won't do one more season just for the money."