Mikel Nieve

Mikel Nieve Iturralde (born 26 May 1984) is a Spanish Basque former professional road bicycle racer, who competed as a professional from 2008 to 2022.

Career Euskaltel–Euskadi (2009–2013)

Born in Leitza, Nieve won the sixteenth stage of the 2010 Vuelta a España, shaking off four riders to win solo in the mountain finish at the Alto de Cotobello. He earned another prestigious victory in the fifteenth stage of the 2011 Giro d'Italia, the queen stage of that year's edition, which Alberto Contador later described as the most difficult stage of his life. Nieve had broken away early, and crested the penultimate climb of the day, the Passo Fedaia, with only Stefano Garzelli in front of him. On the lower slope of the final climb to Gardeccia-Val di Fassa, Nieve passed Garzelli, and held on to win the stage after having spent a little less than 7 hours and a half in the saddle.

He finished 10th twice in the Giro d'Italia in 2011 and 2012. He also finished 10th twice in the Vuelta a España in 2010 and 2011.

In 2013, Nieve rode his first Tour de France, where he finished 3rd on Mont Ventoux and 9th on Alpe d'Huez. He ended up finishing 12th overall. After the disbanding of the team was confirmed at the end of the 2013 season, Nieve agreed to join on an initial two-year deal. Nieve also rode the Tour de France, where he helped Chris Froome take overall victory as one of his mountain domestiques.

Mitchelton–Scott (2018–2021) In August 2017, it was announced that Nieve would join for the 2018 season. During the 2018 Giro d'Italia, Nieve won the penultimate stage of the race, having been a part of the 27-rider breakaway on his 34th birthday. He finished 10th overall in the 2019 Vuelta a España, finishing in the top 10 of the race for the fourth time in his career, having entered the race as a domestique for teammate Esteban Chaves. At the 2020 Tour de France, he abandoned a Grand Tour for the first time in 19 attempts, having finished each of the previous 18 in the top-25 placings overall. He then rode the 2020 Vuelta a España, and finished 13th overall.

Caja Rural–Seguros RGA In December 2021, Nieve announced that he was joining the team for the 2022 season, after thirteen years at UCI World Tour level.

Major results

2007 9th Overall Vuelta a Navarra 2008 3rd Overall Cinturó de l'Empordà 2009 7th Overall Vuelta a Mallorca 7th Trofeo Inca 2010 4th Trofeo Inca 7th Giro di Lombardia 10th Overall Vuelta a España 1st Stage 16 2011 8th Gran Premio de Llodio 10th Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Stage 15 10th Overall Vuelta a España 10th Overall Vuelta a Burgos 2012 5th Overall Tour de Suisse 10th Overall Giro d'Italia 2013 4th Clásica de San Sebastián 2014 4th Clásica de San Sebastián 8th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné 1st Stage 8 10th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico Combativity award Stage 18 Tour de France 2015 2nd Overall Tour of Slovenia 4th Overall Vuelta a Andalucía 6th Giro di Lombardia 8th Overall Vuelta a España 10th Overall Tour de Pologne 2016 Giro d'Italia 1st Mountains classification 1st Stage 13 10th Overall Vuelta a Andalucía 2017 8th Giro di Lombardia 9th Overall Tour de Suisse 2018 1st Stage 20 Giro d'Italia 2019 4th GP Miguel Induráin 8th Overall Tour of the Basque Country 10th Overall Vuelta a España 2020 9th Overall Tour de Pologne 10th Overall Vuelta a Burgos 2022 10th Overall Troféu Joaquim Agostinho

General classification results timeline Grand Tour general classification results Grand Tour 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Giro d'Italia — —1010 — — 17 25 — 17 17 — 25 — Tour de France — — — — 12 18 — 17 14 23 — DNF — — Vuelta a España —1010 — 23 128 — 16 —10 13 31 —Major stage race general classification results Race 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Paris–Nice — DNF — — 85 — — 28 25 — 56 — — — Tirreno–Adriatico — — — — —10 17 — — — — — — — Volta a Catalunya — — 26 DNF 13 DNF — 12 53 — —NH — DNF Tour of the Basque Country DNF — — — — 24 45 — 29 —8 49 DNF Tour de Romandie — 41 — — — 52 — DNF — 16 — — — Critérium du Dauphiné 42 — — — 178 — — — — — — — — Tour de Suisse — — —5 — — — —9 — —NH — —