Alessandro Petacchi
Encyclopedia
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
professional road racing cyclist for .
A specialist sprinter
Cycling sprinter
A cycling sprinter is a road bicycle racer or track racer who can finish a race very explosively by accelerating quickly to a high speed, often using the slipstream of another cyclist or group of cyclists tactically to conserve energy.-The road sprinter:...
, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
in 2004
2004 Giro d'Italia
The 2004 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 87th running of the race, was held from 8 May to 30 May 2004, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,420 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.565 km/h. It was won by Damiano Cunego...
, the Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
in 2005 and the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
in 2010
2010 Tour de France
The 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
.
In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling and had his results achieved disqualified for doping. The court later said that he had not cheated on purpose but had not taken enough care when consuming his legal asthma drug.
Career
Petacchi turned professional in 1996, and rode for a number of teams. In 2006 he moved to with sprinter Erik ZabelErik Zabel
Erik Zabel is a former German professional road bicycle racer who last raced with Milram. With over 200 professional wins he is considered by some one of the greatest German cyclists and best cycling sprinters of history...
, following the disbanding of his Fassa Bortolo. His explosive speed won him stages in all three of the Grand Tours
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
. In 2004 he won a record nine stages at the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
, which resulted in winning the maglia ciclamino
Maglia ciclamino
The points classification in the Giro d'Italia is one of the secondary classifications in the Giro d'Italia. It is determined by the placements in the daily stages, independent from time distances...
for topping the points classification. He won his first classic
Classic cycle races
The classic cycle races are one-day professional cycling road races in the international calendar. Most of the events, all run in western Europe, have been fixtures on the professional calendar for decades and the oldest ones date back to the 19th Century. They are normally held at roughly the same...
in 2005, Milan – San Remo.
He withdrew from the 2006 Giro d'Italia
2006 Giro d'Italia
The 2006 Giro d'Italia was the 89th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 6 May to 28 May 2006, and covered , beginning in the Belgian mining town of Seraing and ending in Milan...
after crashing during the third stage. He had finished the stage with a broken kneecap. In 2007, he won five stages in the Giro d'Italia
2007 Giro d'Italia
The 2007 Giro d'Italia was the 90th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place from 12 May to 3 June 2007. The race began in Sardinia and finished in Milan, and featured five mountain top finishes, of which one was an individual time trial...
, bringing his tally of ProTour victories to 21 and making him the rider with most UCI ProTour victories. In 2010, he won the first and fourth stages of the Tour de France
2010 Tour de France
The 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
. Before going on to complete the grand slam as he won the green sprinters jersey to complete the feat at all the grand tours. In so doing he was the 1st person to complete the feat since 1999 and the first Italian to win the points classification in the Tour de France
Points classification in the Tour de France
The points classification in the Tour de France is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in a points classification. It is considered a sprinters' competition...
since 1968.
Doping allegations
After a non-negative result for the asthmaAsthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
drug salbutamol
Salbutamol
Salbutamol or albuterol is a short-acting β2-adrenergic receptor agonist used for the relief of bronchospasm in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is marketed as Ventolin among other brand names....
, which Petacchi had clearance to use, he was placed on non-active status and missed the 2007 Tour de France
2007 Tour de France
The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
. Petacchi was absolved when the Italian Cycling Federation ruled that overuse of Salbutamol was human error.
On 6 May 2008, the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...
banned Petacchi until the end of August, applied retroactively from November. It said all competitive results obtained during the 2007 Giro d'Italia
2007 Giro d'Italia
The 2007 Giro d'Italia was the 90th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place from 12 May to 3 June 2007. The race began in Sardinia and finished in Milan, and featured five mountain top finishes, of which one was an individual time trial...
shall be disqualified with all of the resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes. Results after 31 October 2007 and during his ban were disqualified including five Giro d'Italia stage wins. The court said Petacchi had not intended to cheat and that it was likely that he had inadvertently consumed too much medication, but he had not exercised "utmost caution." The case was considered controversial, as it kept Petacchi from starting the Tour de France as he had planned and for the court ruling that he should be suspended despite acknowledging that he had not cheated. Petacchi maintained that he had done no wrong.
As a result of this, on 16 May 2008, Petacchi was fired by . After his suspension he joined .
LPR Brakes and beyond
After winning a few minor races in 2008 Petacchi, started 2009 strongly by winning the Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen semi-classic race. He was selected to ride the Giro d'Italia2009 Giro d'Italia
The 2009 Giro d'Italia was the 92nd running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 9 to 31 May 2009, and marked the 100th year since the first edition of the race...
and won the second and third stages, wearing the pink jersey on stage 3 and the cyclamen jersey on stages 2 through 5.
Petacchi signed with for the 2010 season.
Palmares
1998- 1 stage Tour de Langkawi
1999
- King of the Mountains, Tour de Langkawi
2000
- Stages 8 & 12, Vuelta a España2000 Vuelta a EspañaThe 55th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from August 26 to September 17, 2000. It consisted of 21 stages covering a total of 2,904 km, and was won by Roberto Heras of the cycling team.-External links:**...
- 2 stages & GC Giro della Provincia di LuccaGiro della Provincia di LuccaThe Giro della Provincia di Lucca is a professional road bicycle race held annually in Province of Lucca, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour, previously being a stage race. It wasn't held in 2007 and the future of the race is uncertain.-Winners:...
- 2 stages Tour de LuxembourgTour de LuxembourgTour de Luxembourg is an annual stage race in professional road bicycle racing held in Luxembourg. The Tour de Luxembourg is classified as a 2.HC, the highest rating below the ProTour, by the Union Cycliste Internationale , the sport's governing body. In 2006, the Tour was part of the UCI Europe...
- 2 stages Route du SudRoute du SudThe Route du Sud is a road bicycle race held annually in Southern France. It was first held in 1977 and since 2005 it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour...
- 1 stage Regio-TourRegio-TourThe Regio-Tour is a multi-stage road bicycle race held between France, Switzerland and Germany. It was first held in 1985 and since 2005 it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour...
2001
- 2 stages Settimana Lombarda
- 1 stage Euskal BizikletaEuskal BizikletaEuskal Bizikleta is an annual cycling stage race held in the Basque Country in June. Since 2005, the race has been organized as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour....
- 1 stage Tour of Poland
- 1 stage Settimana Coppi & Bartali
2002
- Stage 12, Vuelta a España2002 Vuelta a EspañaThe 57th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from September 7 to September 29, 2002...
- Stage 1 & 5, Paris–Nice
- 3 stages Vuelta Valenciana
- 3 stages Settimana Coppi & Bartali
- 1 stage Tour MéditerranéenTour MéditerranéenTour Méditerranéen is a professional road bicycle racing event held in southern France along the Mediterranean Sea. The Tour Méditerranéen is a five-day stage race that began in 1974 and since 2005 has been a part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.1 event...
- 1 stage Regio-Tour
- 1 stage Ronde van NederlandRonde van NederlandThe Ronde van Nederland is a road bicycle racing stage-race in the Netherlands, founded in 1948. It's an annual race since 1975. Because of the start of the UCI ProTour in 2005 the tour was replaced by the Eneco Tour of Benelux....
2003
- Tour de France2003 Tour de FranceThe 2003 Tour de France started and ended in Paris. Lasting from July 5 to July 27 the race covered 3,427.5 km , proceeding clockwise in twenty stages around France, including six major mountain stages...
:- Winner stages 2, 3, 5 & 6
- Giro d'Italia2003 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2003 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 86th running of the race, was held from 10 May to 1 June 2003, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,472 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.828 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni....
:- Winner stages 1, 5, 6, 13, 16 & 17
- Vuelta a España2003 Vuelta a EspañaThe 58th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from September 6 to September 28, 2003...
:- Winner stages 3, 5, 12, 14 & 21
- Stage 1, Paris–Nice
- 3 stages Vuelta a AragónVuelta a AragónVuelta a Aragón is a professional cycle road race held in Spain in April each year. The event was first run in 1939 but has not been held consistently, being cancelled in 2006 and 2007...
- 2 stages Ronde van Nederland
- 1 stage Vuelta Valenciana
- Trofeo Luis PuigTrofeo Luis PuigThe Trofeo Luis Puig is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in Valencian Community, Spain. In 2005, the race was organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. It has not been run since.-Winners:...
2004
- Giro d'Italia2004 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2004 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 87th running of the race, was held from 8 May to 30 May 2004, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,420 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.565 km/h. It was won by Damiano Cunego...
:- Winner Maglia ciclaminoMaglia ciclaminoThe points classification in the Giro d'Italia is one of the secondary classifications in the Giro d'Italia. It is determined by the placements in the daily stages, independent from time distances...
(Points classification) - Winner Most Combative classification
- Winner Azzurri d'Italia classification
- Winner stages 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16 and 21
- Winner Maglia ciclamino
- Vuelta a España2004 Vuelta a EspañaThe 59th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from September 4 to September 26, 2004...
:- Winner stages 2, 4, 7 and 13
- Stages 1, 2 & 7, Tirreno–Adriatico
- 2 stages Giro della Provincia di Lucca
- 2 stages Vuelta a Aragón
- 1 stage Ronde van Nederland
2005
- Giro d'Italia2005 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2005 Giro d'Italia, the 88th running of the race, was held from 7 May to 29 May 2005, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,417 km, ridden at an average speed of 37,375 km/h...
:- Winner stages 10, 13, 16 and 21
- Vuelta a España:
- Winner Points Classification
- Winner stages 3, 4, 8, 12 and 21
- 1st 2005 Milan – San Remo
- Stages 1, 6 & 7 Tirreno–Adriatico
- Stages 1 & 2 Tour de RomandieTour de RomandieThe Tour de Romandie is a stage race which is part of the UCI World Tour. It runs in the Romandie region, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. It began in 1947, to coincide with the 50-year anniversary of Swiss Cycling....
- 3 stages & GC Volta a la Comunitat ValencianaVolta a la Comunitat ValencianaThe Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana is a road cycling stage race held in the Valencian Community , Spain. Its position in the cycling calendar means it is often used as preparation for the spring classics or the grand tours which take place later in the season.No editions of the race have been...
- GP Costa Degli EtruschiGran Premio della Costa EtruschiThe Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi is a one day professional cycling race between the towns of San Vincenzo and Donoratico on the Tuscany coast in Italy. The 193 kilometre long race takes place at the beginning of February and has now taken over from the Trofeo Laigueglia as the opening event of...
- Trofeo Luis Puig
- 2 stages Vuelta a AndalucíaVuelta a AndalucíaThe Vuelta a Andalucía or Ruta del Sol is a regional Spanish road bicycle race. Since 2005, it has been a 2.1 category race on the UCI Europe Tour....
- 2 stages Vuelta a Aragón
2006
- Stage 7 & Points Classification Tirreno–Adriatico
- GP Costa Degli Etruschi
- Giro della Provincia di Lucca
- 5 stages & GC Internationale Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt
- 2 stages Ruta del Sol
- 2 stages Vuelta Valenciana
2007
- GP Costa Degli Etruschi
- 3 stages & GC Internationale Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt
- 3 stages & GC Volta ao AlgarveVolta ao AlgarveThe Volta ao Algarve is a road bicycle racing stage race held annually in the Algarve, Portugal. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. Due to its early February position in the European calendar, it is used by many riders to prepare for the Spring...
- 1 stage Vuelta Valenciana
- 1 stage Regio-Tour
- Vuelta a España2007 Vuelta a EspañaThe 2007 Vuelta a España, the sixty-second edition of the cycle race, took place from September 1 until September 23, 2007. For the first time in a decade, the race started in the region of Galicia, at Vigo, home to Óscar Pereiro, with a flat stage...
:- Winner stages 11, 12
- Paris–Tours
2008
- Tour of BritainTour of BritainThe Tour of Britain is a cycle race, conducted over several stages, in which participants race from place to place across parts of Great Britain....
:- Winner stages 1, 6, 8
- Memorial Viviana Manservisi
- GP Beghelli
2009
- Gran Premio della Costa EtruschiGran Premio della Costa EtruschiThe Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi is a one day professional cycling race between the towns of San Vincenzo and Donoratico on the Tuscany coast in Italy. The 193 kilometre long race takes place at the beginning of February and has now taken over from the Trofeo Laigueglia as the opening event of...
- 1st, Stage 5, Giro di SardegnaGiro di SardegnaGiro di Sardegna is a stage road bicycle race held on the island of Sardinia, an Italian region. The race returned in 2009 after 11 years. It is now rated 2.1 and is part of the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...
- 1st, Stage 2, Tirreno–Adriatico
- Settimana Ciclista Lombarda:
- 1st, Stage 1 Team Time Trial
- 1st, Stage 2
- 1st, Stage 4
- Grote Scheldeprijs2009 Grote ScheldeprijsThe 2009 Grote Scheldeprijs cycling race took place on 15 April 2009. It was the 97th running of the Grote Scheldeprijs. A breakaway of Lorenzo Bernucci, Matthé Pronk, Pavel Brutt and Jeff Louder formed after 80 km, and stayed free of the peloton until 9 km to go. Bernucci, of , attacked...
- Giro di ToscanaGiro di ToscanaThe Giro di Toscana is a road bicycle race held annually in Tuscany, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...
- Giro d'Italia2009 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2009 Giro d'Italia was the 92nd running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 9 to 31 May 2009, and marked the 100th year since the first edition of the race...
:- 1st, Stages 2, 3
- 1st, Stage 1, Delta Tour Zeeland
2010
- Giro della Provincia di Reggio CalabriaGiro della Provincia di Reggio CalabriaThe Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria is a road bicycle race held annually in Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy. The race as a single-day race until 2005. It wasn't held in 2006 or 2007, but returned in 2008 as a three day stage race. In 2009, the Giro was a single-day race, and in 2010, it...
- 1st, stage 2, 4
- 1st, Gran Premio della Costa EtruschiGran Premio della Costa EtruschiThe Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi is a one day professional cycling race between the towns of San Vincenzo and Donoratico on the Tuscany coast in Italy. The 193 kilometre long race takes place at the beginning of February and has now taken over from the Trofeo Laigueglia as the opening event of...
- Tirreno–Adriatico2010 Tirreno–AdriaticoThe 2010 Tirreno–Adriatico was the 45th running of the Tirreno–Adriatico stage race. It started on 10 March and finished on 16 March. The race started in Livorno and ended San Benedetto del Tronto...
:- 2nd Stage 3
- 2nd Stage 7
- 3rd Milan – San Remo2010 Milan – San RemoThe 2010 Milan – San Remo was the 101st running of the Milan – San Remo cycling race, held on March 20. The race was won by Oscar Freire of Spain in a bunch sprint finish.- Teams :...
- Tour de SuisseTour de SuisseThe Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
- 1st Stage 4
- Tour de France2010 Tour de FranceThe 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
- 1st
Points ClassificationPoints classification in the Tour de FranceThe points classification in the Tour de France is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in a points classification. It is considered a sprinters' competition... - 1st Stage 1
- 1st Stage 4
- 1st
- Vuelta a España2010 Vuelta a EspañaThe 2010 Vuelta a España was held from August 28 to September 19 and was won by Vincenzo Nibali. The race began in Seville and ended, as is tradition, in Madrid.The race covered...
:- Winner stage 7
2011
- Volta a Catalunya2011 Volta a CatalunyaThe 2011 Volta a Catalunya was the 91st running of the Volta a Catalunya cycling stage race. It started on 21 March in Lloret de Mar and ended on 27 March in Barcelona, and consisted on seven stages...
- 1st Stage 2
- Tour of Turkey2011 Tour of TurkeyThe 2011 Tour of Turkey is the 47th edition of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey cycling stage race. It is being held from 24 April–1 May 2011, and is rated as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour. The last edition was won by 's rider Giovanni Visconti...
- 1st Points classification
- 1st Stage 4
- Giro d'Italia2011 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2011 Giro d'Italia was the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started on 7 May with a team time trial in Turin to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification, when the city served as the first capital of the single state.The route was...
- 1st Stage 2