Joseba Beloki

Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (born 12 August 1973) is a Spanish Basque former professional road bicycle racer.

Tour successes Beloki turned professional in 1998 with , joined in 2000, and then in 2001. A strong climber in the high mountains and a top performer in individual time trials, he made it to the podium in each of his first three rides in the Tour de France: in 2000 (3rd place), 2001 (3rd place) and 2002 (2nd place). He is the only runner-up during Lance Armstrong's run of seven consecutive Tour wins to have not been found guilty of doping, though he was not retroactively awarded the victory in the general classification of 2002 after Armstrong's wins were stripped. In 2001, Beloki also finished first overall in the Volta a Catalunya.

Crash and recovery

On 14 July 2003, during the 9th stage of the 2003 Tour de France, Beloki was in second place overall (just 40 seconds behind Armstrong) and negotiating a turn at speed while descending from Cote de La Rochette, shortly after passing the Col de Manse, just 4 km from the stage finish at Gap. He lost control of his bicycle after he locked his rear brake and the rear tire came off the wheel on a patch of tarmac that was softened by the sun, sending his rear wheel skidding first in one direction and then the other. Beloki suffered a hard fall that broke his right femur in two places along with his elbow and his wrist. Armstrong was following immediately behind Beloki and, to avoid the fallen rider, headed off the road to go down the hill through the underbrush and across a small field. The crash effectively ended Beloki's career as a premier bicycle racer.

For the 2004 season, Beloki signed for the French team Brioches La Boulangère in preparation for the 2004 Tour de France. He was reported as being fully recovered from his injuries by early 2004, but it later transpired that those injuries were taking longer to heal than initially anticipated. By mid-April 2004, Beloki had yet to begin serious competition for the season. He started his home race, the Tour of the Basque Country, but failed to even complete the first stage before retiring in pain from his injuries. Citing incompatibility with the French team, he switched to the Spanish Saunier Duval–Prodir team for the remainder of the 2004 season. Beloki switched back to Manolo Saiz's team (now called Liberty Seguros–Würth) for 2005. Beloki completed the 2005 Tour de France and finished in 75th place. In the Vuelta a España, he also completed the race without being recognized, since he was only 39th overall.

In 2006 he was among those implicated in Operación Puerto and was withdrawn from the Tour de France. However, on 26 July he was cleared by Spanish officials of any wrongdoing. Payment records from Beloki as well as his race schedule were found in Eufemiano Fuentes' possession in his office; however, Beloki denies any claim he doped with Fuentes.

Personal life His son Markel Beloki is also a professional cyclist.

Career achievements Major results

1997

1st Stage 1 2nd Time trial, National Road Championships 1998 5th Overall Tour de l'Avenir

1999 3rd Road race, National Road Championships 4th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 4th Overall Volta a Catalunya 2000

1st Stage 5 2nd Overall Tour de Romandie 1st Stage 3b (ITT) 3rd Overall Tour de France 6th Overall Vuelta a Aragón 2001

1st Stages 1 (TTT), 4 & 8 (ITT) 2nd Overall Euskal Bizikleta 2nd Overall Escalada a Montjuïc 3rd Overall Tour de France 4th Circuito de Getxo 2002 2nd Overall Tour de France 2nd Overall Escalada a Montjuïc 1st Stage 1a (ITT) 3rd Overall Vuelta a España 1st Stage 1 (TTT)

3rd Overall Vuelta a Asturias 3rd LuK Challenge Chrono (with Igor González de Galdeano) 8th Overall Euskal Bizikleta 1st Stage 5 8th Giro di Lombardia 2003

1st Stage 2b (ITT) 2nd Overall Euskal Bizikleta 1st Stage 5

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

+ Legend — Did not compete DNF Did not finish