Íñigo Cuesta
Encyclopedia
Íñigo Cuesta López de Castro (born 2 June 1969 in Villarcayo, Burgos
) is a former Spanish
professional road bicycle racer. Cuesta turned professional in 1994 for the Basque
team. Here his results included a second place in 1995 Vuelta a Asturias
, and in 1996 he signed a contract with Spanish team ONCE. Cuesta would have to wait until 1998 before he won his first race, the overall victory in the stage race Vuelta al País Vasco. In securing the stage race win, he proved his talent as both a climber and time trialist, though not on the level of the Grand Tours
.
Even though he won a second triumph, a stage in the 2000 Dauphiné Libéré
, he didn't get his contract renewed. Instead he signed with Cofidis
, after his initial new employer, Linda McCartney Racing Team
, went bankrupt before the season started. His four years at Cofidis didn't provide Cuesta with any more wins, his biggest result a 13th place in the 2001 Vuelta a España
. In 2005 he changed to Saunier Duval, where he won stage 5 in Volta a Catalunya, during the early ProTour season. Though he still had one year remaining of his contract, Íñigo Cuesta changed to Team CSC
before the 2006 season. Here he assisted team captain Carlos Sastre
in the Vuelta a España.
Cuesta continued to help Sastre in 2009, after the announcement that he changed team and joined the new .
During the 2010 Vuelta a España
, Cuesta started for the 17th consecutive year, a new record. To commemorate this, the race organizers gave him jersey number one, normally worn by the winner of the previous edition.
He announced his retirement in August 2011 after his team were not selected for the 2011 Vuelta a España
2000
2005
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
) is a former Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
professional road bicycle racer. Cuesta turned professional in 1994 for the Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
team. Here his results included a second place in 1995 Vuelta a Asturias
Vuelta a Asturias
Vuelta 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...
, and in 1996 he signed a contract with Spanish team ONCE. Cuesta would have to wait until 1998 before he won his first race, the overall victory in the stage race Vuelta al País Vasco. In securing the stage race win, he proved his talent as both a climber and time trialist, though not on the level 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...
.
Even though he won a second triumph, a stage in the 2000 Dauphiné Libéré
Dauphiné Libéré
The 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...
, he didn't get his contract renewed. Instead he signed with Cofidis
Cofidis (cycling team)
Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne is a French professional road bicycle racing team sponsored by a money-lending company, Cofidis. It was started in 1996 by Cyrille Guimard the former manager of Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon of the Renault-Elf team of the 1980s...
, after his initial new employer, Linda McCartney Racing Team
Linda McCartney Racing Team
The Linda McCartney Racing Team was a British professional road bicycle racing team.-History:The team began in 1998 with Linda McCartney Foods, maker of vegetarian food, sponsoring vegetarian riders and staff. The company was started by Sir Paul McCartney's wife, Linda...
, went bankrupt before the season started. His four years at Cofidis didn't provide Cuesta with any more wins, his biggest result a 13th place in the 2001 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 he changed to Saunier Duval, where he won stage 5 in Volta a Catalunya, during the early ProTour season. Though he still had one year remaining of his contract, Íñigo Cuesta changed to Team CSC
Team CSC
Team Saxo Bank-SunGard is a professional cycling team from Denmark. It competes in the UCI ProTour. The team is owned and managed by former Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis, under the management of his company Riis Cycling. The sponsor is a Danish investment bank.Founded for 1998 Team home – Jack...
before the 2006 season. Here he assisted team captain 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...
in the Vuelta a España.
Cuesta continued to help Sastre in 2009, after the announcement that he changed team and joined the new .
During the 2010 Vuelta a España
2010 Vuelta a España
The 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...
, Cuesta started for the 17th consecutive year, a new record. To commemorate this, the race organizers gave him jersey number one, normally worn by the winner of the previous edition.
He announced his retirement in August 2011 after his team were not selected for the 2011 Vuelta a España
2011 Vuelta a España
The 2011 Vuelta a España was held from 20 August to 11 September. The race began in Benidorm with a team time trial and ended, as is traditional, in Madrid. The 2011 Vuelta was the 66th edition of the race and was the first Vuelta in 33 years that visited the Basque Country...
Career highlights
1998- Overall, Vuelta al País Vasco
2000
- Stage 6, 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...
2005
- Stage 5, Volta a Catalunya
- Mountains Competition, Volta a Catalunya