Iban Mayo

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Iban Mayo bigraphy, stories - Road bicycle racer

Iban Mayo : biography

19 August 1977 –

Iban Mayo Diez (born August 19, 1977, in Igorre, Basque Country, Spain) is a professional road bicycle racer.

Major results

2001
, Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Pontcharra – Briançon
, Classique des Alpes
, Grand Prix du Midi Libre
, Vuelta a España
2002
, Vuelta a España
2003
, Tour of the Basque Country

, Legazpia – Legazpia
, Santesteban – Fuenterrabía
, Fuenterrabía ITT
, Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

, Vienne – Morzine
, Villard de Lans ITT
, Liège–Bastogne–Liège
, Tour de France

, Sallanches – L’Alpe d’Huez
2004
, Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

, Megeve ITT
, Bedoin – Mont Ventoux ITT
, Tour of the Basque Country
, Classique des Alpes
, Vuelta Asturias
, Subida al Naranco
, Clásica de Alcobendas

, Alcobendas – Puerto de Navacerrada
, Collado Villalba – Collaldo Villalba
2006
, Vuelta a Burgos

, Vilviestre – Lagos de Neila
, Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Briançon – La Toussuire
Subida a Urkiola
2007
, Giro d’Italia, Treviso – Comano Terme
, Tour de France, Grand Bornand – Tignes

Doping

On July 30, 2007, the UCI confirmed he had failed a test for EPO during the Tour de France, which he finished 16th ."Mayo fails dope test for EPO," AFP, July 30, 2007. Posted 19:29 GMT On October 22, the Spanish federation cleared Mayo after a second test proved negative. The UCI president Pat McQuaid stopped short of clearing the rider, pending further tests. On December 19, a French laboratory confirmed the positive test. In 2008, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld Mayo’s two year’s ban, which ended on 31 July 2009.

Biography

Renowned as a climber, Mayo turned pro with in 2000, and became one of the Basque Country’s prospects for glory. He stayed with Euskaltel-Euskadi throughout 2000-2006. The biggest result came in the 2003 Tour de France, when he won a stage up Alpe d’Huez. He finished the Tour sixth.

In 2004 he won the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, regarded as preparation for the Tour de France. He beat Lance Armstrong by 2 minutes in a time trial on Mont Ventoux, breaking the record. He was seen as a dangerous outsider for the Tour de France in the same year. It turned out a disappointment. After losing time due to a crash, he lost more in the Pyrenees due to injuries and mononucleosis. He quit before the 15th stage.

After a lackluster 2005, in 2006 he returned in the Dauphiné Libéré with 2nd place in Briançon and a win on the stage to La Toussuire. He was seen as a contender for the 2006 Tour de France, but retired during the 11th stage. In 2007 Mayo rode for , taking his first Giro d’Italia stage win.