José Azevedo
Encyclopedia
José Bento Azevedo Carvalho (born 19 September 1973 in Vila do Conde, Grande Porto
) is a Portuguese
former professional road racing cyclist. As of 2010, he is also a team manager with Team RadioShack
. During his racing career, Azevedo rode for between 2001 and 2003 and for between 2004 and 2006.
, sixth overall at the 2002 Tour de France
and fifth overall at the 2004 Tour de France
. He also made a second place in the Germany Tour, just behind Michael Rogers. He won the queen-stage of the German competition.
Until 2005 he was a renowned domestique
; his primary role was to serve as Lance Armstrong
's lieutenant in mountain
stages, specifically stages in the Pyrenees
Mountains.Lance Armstrong
described him as the best lieutenant he has ever had. Nicknamed "The Ace", he moved to US Postal (which became the now-defunct Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
) from Team ONCE (also defunct) in 2004.
Azevedo claimed the highest finish in the general classification amongst his Discovery Channel teammates in the 2006 Tour de France
. Azevedo finished 18th overall, 37 minutes and 11 seconds behind race winner Óscar Pereiro, following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis
.
To be able to spend more time with his family, Azevedo opted for a home team. He is now the leader of the Benfica cycling team
. Azevedo finished his career at the end of the Tour of Portugal 2008.
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Grande Porto
Grande Porto or Greater Porto is a Portuguese NUTS3 subregion, integrating the NUTS2 region of Norte, in Portugal.It corresponds to 11 municipalities out of 16, the other 5 in Entre Douro e Vouga Subregion that constitute the larger Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto, centered in the city of Porto....
) is a Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
former professional road racing cyclist. As of 2010, he is also a team manager with Team RadioShack
Team RadioShack
Team RadioShack is a professional road bicycle racing team, with RadioShack as the title sponsor, the creation of which was announced on July 23, 2009. Lance Armstrong co-owns and leads the team, which plans to race in the Grand Tours and the UCI ProTour, as well as running and triathlon events...
. During his racing career, Azevedo rode for between 2001 and 2003 and for between 2004 and 2006.
Career
Azevedo's principal career successes have been fifth overall at the 2001 Giro d'Italia2001 Giro d'Italia
The 2001 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 84th running of the race, was held from 19 May to 10 June 2001. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages with one rest days, for a total of 3,356 km, ridden at an average speed of 40.170 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.- Stages :-Jersey Progress:- General...
, sixth overall at the 2002 Tour de France
2002 Tour de France
The 2002 Tour de France started in Luxembourg on July 6, 2002, and ended in Paris on July 28. France was visited counter-clockwise, so the Pyrenees were there before the Alps...
and fifth overall at the 2004 Tour de France
2004 Tour de France
The 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...
. He also made a second place in the Germany Tour, just behind Michael Rogers. He won the queen-stage of the German competition.
Until 2005 he was a renowned domestique
Cycling domestique
A domestique is a road bicycle racer who works for the benefit of his team and leader. The French domestique translates as "servant". In Italy and Spain, the term gregario is used, while in Belgium and the Netherlands the term knecht or helper are used...
; his primary role was to serve as Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
's lieutenant in mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
stages, specifically stages in the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
Mountains.Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
described him as the best lieutenant he has ever had. Nicknamed "The Ace", he moved to US Postal (which became the now-defunct Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team was a United States-based professional road bicycle racing team. It was the continuation of the 2004 U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team. Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner, was its leader until July 2005...
) from Team ONCE (also defunct) in 2004.
Azevedo claimed the highest finish in the general classification amongst his Discovery Channel teammates in the 2006 Tour de France
2006 Tour de France
The 2006 Tour de France was the 93rd Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 23, 2006. It was won by Óscar Pereiro following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis....
. Azevedo finished 18th overall, 37 minutes and 11 seconds behind race winner Óscar Pereiro, following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis...
.
To be able to spend more time with his family, Azevedo opted for a home team. He is now the leader of the Benfica cycling team
SL Benfica (cycling team)
Sport Lisboa e Benfica was a cycling team of the multisports club Sport Lisboa e Benfica, from Lisbon, Portugal.-History:Cycling was the second sports department established within Sport Lisboa e Benfica, and along with football, is one of only two sports referenced in the club logo...
. Azevedo finished his career at the end of the Tour of Portugal 2008.
Major achievements
2001- 5th Overall Giro d'Italia2001 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2001 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 84th running of the race, was held from 19 May to 10 June 2001. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages with one rest days, for a total of 3,356 km, ridden at an average speed of 40.170 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.- Stages :-Jersey Progress:- General...
2002
- 6th Overall Tour de France2002 Tour de FranceThe 2002 Tour de France started in Luxembourg on July 6, 2002, and ended in Paris on July 28. France was visited counter-clockwise, so the Pyrenees were there before the Alps...
2003
- 1st Stage 5 Deutschland-Tour
2004
- 5th Overall Tour de France2004 Tour de FranceThe 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...
2005
- 10th Overall Tour de GeorgiaTour de Georgia 2005The 2005 Tour de Georgia was the third annual bicycle road racing event held in the state of Georgia, United States. The six-day, six stage 550 mile race was held April 19 through April 24, 2004 with the overall title and yellow jersey won by Tom Danielson of the .New Zealander Greg Henderson ...
2006
- 4th Overall Dauphiné LibéréDauphiné Libéré 2006The 58th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré took place from June 4 to June 11, 2006. It consisted of a Prologue and seven stages covering a total of 1098 km, starting in Annecy and finishing in Grenoble....