Berlin - Veteran German cyclist Andreas Kloden has announced his retirement after a 16-year professional career that included two runner-up finishes in the Tour de France.

The 38-year-old Kloden, who finished second in the Tour in 2004 and 2006, told the Weser-Kurier newspaper he wants to spend more time with his wife and two daughters.

Kloden was the highest-finishing German in 30th place in his 12th Tour in July, when he raced for RadioShack.

He told the DPA news agency that his failure to find a new team helped push him toward retirement.

Kloden rode alongside Jan Ullrich, Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong, winning eight pro stage races including Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, Tour of Romandie and the Tour of the Basque Country on two occasions.

He has faced doping allegations, but told the Weser-Kurier, "I have nothing to confess."