José Maria Jiménez
Encyclopedia
Jose María Jimenez Sastre (February 6, 1971 in El Barraco, Spain - December 6, 2003 in Madrid
) was a professional road bicycle racer. His nickname was "El Chava".
When he turned professional, Jiménez was considered a potential successor of Miguel Indurain
. He won the points jersey
(2001) and the mountains jersey (1997–1999, 2001) of the Vuelta a España
, finishing 3rd overall in 1998
, 5th in 1999, and 17th in 2001.
He often attacked without considering the consequences, which sometimes resulted in spectacular wins in the toughest mountain stages. During stage eight of the 1999 Vuelta a España
Jiménez attacked the 23% grade of the Angliru in rain and fog to catch Pavel Tonkov
's long solo break at the line and take the stage in a two-man sprint. However, he would subsequently pay for his attacking style in the next stage, where he would often lose by 10 or more minutes. Jiménez received psychological treatment for depression, and retired from professional cycling in 2002, at which point he got married. He died of a heart attack
in a clinic in Madrid at the age of 32.
Spanish cyclist Carlos Sastre
is Jimenez's brother-in-law.
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
) was a professional road bicycle racer. His nickname was "El Chava".
When he turned professional, Jiménez was considered a potential successor of Miguel Indurain
Miguel Indurain
Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya is a retired Spanish road racing cyclist. He won five consecutive Tour de Frances from 1991 and 1995, the first to do so, and the fourth athlete to win five times. He won the Giro d'Italia twice, becoming one of only seven people in history to achieve the Giro Tour...
. He won the points jersey
Points classification
The points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
(2001) and the mountains jersey (1997–1999, 2001) of 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...
, finishing 3rd overall in 1998
1998 Vuelta a España
The 53rd edition of the Vuelta a España was held 5 to 27 September 1998 and began in Córdoba and ended in Madrid. The 1998 Vuelta had 22 stages over 3,774 km with the winning average speed of 40.262 km/h....
, 5th in 1999, and 17th in 2001.
He often attacked without considering the consequences, which sometimes resulted in spectacular wins in the toughest mountain stages. During stage eight of the 1999 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...
Jiménez attacked the 23% grade of the Angliru in rain and fog to catch Pavel Tonkov
Pavel Tonkov
Pavel Sergeyevich Tonkov is a former professional road racing cyclist from Russia. His talents were first showcased when winning the world junior title as part of the Soviet Union team in 1987. This alerted the world to his talents and he turned pro in 1992 with the RUSS-Baïkal team. His biggest...
's long solo break at the line and take the stage in a two-man sprint. However, he would subsequently pay for his attacking style in the next stage, where he would often lose by 10 or more minutes. Jiménez received psychological treatment for depression, and retired from professional cycling in 2002, at which point he got married. He died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in a clinic in Madrid at the age of 32.
Spanish cyclist Carlos Sastre
Carlos Sastre
Carlos Sastre Candil is a retired Spanish professional road bicycle racer and champion of the 2008 Tour de France. Sastre rides in 2011 for UCI Professional Continental team...
is Jimenez's brother-in-law.
Major results
1992- 1st
Overall, Circuito MontañésCircuito MontañésCircuito Montañés is a cycling stage race held annually in Cantabria, Spain. The editions 1986-1995 were reserved to amateurs. Since 2005, the race has been organized as a 2.2 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...
1994
- 1st Subida a UrkiolaSubida a UrkiolaSubida a Urkiola is a one-day cycling race in Durango, Biscay of the Basque Country. The first edition began in 1931 and is organized by the Sociedad Ciclista Bilbaina, but has not been held consistently until 1984 to present. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe...
- 1st Overall Vuelta a La RiojaVuelta a La RiojaThe Vuelta a La Rioja is a regional Spanish road bicycle race held in La Rioja. Since 2005, it has been a 2.1 category race on the UCI Europe Tour.The event is facing financial challenges in 2009. Wrote velonews.com:...
- 1st Stage 2
1995
- 1st Overall, Colorado Classic
- 1st Stage 1
- 1st Stage 3
- 1st Stage 4 Volta a Catalunya
1996
- 1st Subida a UrkiolaSubida a UrkiolaSubida a Urkiola is a one-day cycling race in Durango, Biscay of the Basque Country. The first edition began in 1931 and is organized by the Sociedad Ciclista Bilbaina, but has not been held consistently until 1984 to present. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe...
- 12th Overall, Vuelta a España1996 Vuelta a EspañaThe 51st Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from September 6 to September 28, 1996. It consisted of 22 stages covering a total of 3,898 km, and was won by Alex Zülle of the ONCE cycling team.-External links:*...
1997
- 1st National Road Race Championship
- 1st Overall Vuelta a La RiojaVuelta a La RiojaThe Vuelta a La Rioja is a regional Spanish road bicycle race held in La Rioja. Since 2005, it has been a 2.1 category race on the UCI Europe Tour.The event is facing financial challenges in 2009. Wrote velonews.com:...
- 1st Stage 2
- 8th Overall, Tour de France1997 Tour de FranceThe 1997 Tour de France was the 84th Tour de France, it took place July 5–27, 1997. Jan Ullrich's victory margin, of 9' 09" was the largest margin of victory since Laurent Fignon won the 1984 Tour de France by 10' 32"...
- 1st
Mountains classification, Vuelta a España1997 Vuelta a EspañaThe 52nd Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from September 6 to September 28, 1997. It consisted of 22 stages covering a total of 3,773 km, and was won by Alex Zülle of the ONCE cycling team.-Stages:-Final General Classification...
- 1st Stage 19
1998
- 1st Stage 3, Dauphiné LibéréDauphiné LibéréThe Critérium du Dauphiné is an annual cycling road race, run over eight stages in the Dauphiné region in France during the first half of June. The race was inaugurated by a local newspaper, the Dauphiné Libéré, which gave its name to the event...
- 1st Stage 5, Vuelta a AsturiasVuelta a AsturiasVuelta a Asturias is a professional cycle road race held in Spain in early May each year. The event was first run in 1925 but has not been held consistently until 1968 to present. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour...
- 3rd Overall, Vuelta a España1998 Vuelta a EspañaThe 53rd edition of the Vuelta a España was held 5 to 27 September 1998 and began in Córdoba and ended in Madrid. The 1998 Vuelta had 22 stages over 3,774 km with the winning average speed of 40.262 km/h....
- 1st Mountains classification
- 1st Stage 6
- 1st Stage 10
- 1st Stage 11
- 1st Stage 16
- 1st
1999
- 5th Overall, Vuelta a España1999 Vuelta a EspañaThe 1999 Vuelta a España was the 54th Vuelta a España, taking place from September 4 starting in Murcia and finishing in Madrid on September 26, 1999. It consisted of 21 stages over 3576 km, ridden at an average speed of 39.449 km/h. The favourites were Laurent Jalabert, Alex Zülle, Jan...
- 1st Mountains classification
- 1st Stage 8
- 1st
2000
- 1st Classique des AlpesClassique des AlpesClassique des Alpes was a classic taking place as a mountainous single-day cycling race. It took place in Chartreuse Mountains, beginning in Chambéry and finishing in Aix-les-Bains....
- 1st Overall, Volta a Catalunya
- 1st Stage 7
- 1st Stage 8
2001
- 17th Overall, 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:**...
- 1st
Points classificationPoints classificationThe points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;... - 1st Mountains classification
- 1st Stage 8
- 1st Stage 11
- 1st Stage 12
- 1st