Mikel Astarloza

Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (born 17 November 1979 in Gipuzkoa, Basque Country) is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer, who competed as a professional between 2002 and 2009, and 2011 to 2013.[1]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Astarloza and the second or maternal family name is Chaurreau.
Mikel Astarloza
Astarloza at the 2007 Tour de France.
Personal information
Full nameMikel Astarloza Chaurreau
Born (1979-11-17) 17 November 1979
Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb; 11.3 st)
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Professional teams
2002–2006AG2R Prévoyance
2007–2009Euskaltel–Euskadi
2011–2013Euskaltel–Euskadi
Major wins
Tour Down Under (2003)

Career

In 2003 he won his first race, when he finished just in front of Lennie Kristensen in the overall rankings of the Tour Down Under. He has taken part in all editions of the Tour de France since 2003, and won stage 16 of the 2009 Tour to record his second professional stage win in any competition (for the Euskaltel team), with his 9th position overall in 2007 as his next best attempt. His cousin Íñigo Chaurreau is also a professional cyclist.

On 26 June 2009 he tested positive on Recombinant Erythropoietin (EPO), for which he was suspended by the UCI on 31 July 2009.[2] Astarloza denied using EPO, saying that it was "sporting suicide" to use illegal performance-enhancing drugs.[3] On 15 May 2010, he was formally handed a two-year ban by the Spanish Cycling Federation. Astarloza continually claimed his innocence, and Euskaltel-Euskadi stated that they would rehire him once the ban ended.[4] He indeed rejoined the Basque team in August 2011, at the Vuelta a Burgos.[5]

Astarloza was selected to ride the 2012 Tour de France, but crashed on a big pile-up in stage 6 with 25 km (16 mi) remaining with a fractured right elbow and did not finish the stage.[6]

On 1 October 2013 Astarloza announced that he would retire from professional cycling after the 2013 Tour of Beijing.[1]

Career achievements

Major results
2003
1st Overall Tour Down Under
3rd Time trial, National Road Championships
2005
7th Overall Bayern Rundfahrt
2007
7th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
9th Overall Tour de France
10th Overall Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
2008
4th Overall Vuelta a Andalucía
4th Klasika Primavera
5th Overall Tour de Romandie
6th Overall Tour of the Basque Country
7th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
2009
4th Klasika Primavera

Grand Tour general classification results timeline
Grand Tour 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2012 2013
A pink jersey Giro d'Italia — — — — — — — — — —
A yellow jersey Tour de France — 29 62 27 35 9 16 11 DNF 42
A red jersey Vuelta a España 77 — DNF — 56 — 28 — 48 —
Legend
— Did not compete
DNF Did not finish

References
  1. Cossins, Peter (1 October 2013). "Astarloza announces his retirement". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  2. "Latest news from the world of cycling | Cycling Weekly".
  3. "Spanish rider denies taking EPO". BBC Sport. 2009-08-04. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
  4. "Astarloza suspended for two years for EPO". 15 May 2010.
  5. "Astarloza returns after two-year ban". 3 August 2011.
  6. "Fractures, bruises and bumps: A stage six injury report". Cycling News. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
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