Mikhail Ignatiev

Mikhail Borisovich Ignatiev (born 7 May 1985) is a former Russian professional track and road bicycle racer. He recently rode for UCI ProTour team , as well as participating in various track events. He is known as a time trial specialist, and also has a reputation for making the breakaway in road races and trying, often with success, to solo to victory.

Career In 2004 Ignatiev achieved his biggest success to date, winning a gold medal in the points race at the Athens Olympics. On the road, Ignatiev came to prominence with his ability in the individual time trial. In 2002 and 2003, he was the World Junior Champion, while in 2005 he became the World Under 23 Champion.

Ignatiev signed his first professional contract in 2006, when he started riding for the cycling team. This team competed mainly in Russia, but Ignatiev made a big impact during a series of Spanish races in the middle part of the season.

When Tinkoff Credit Systems was established from Tinkoff Restaurants in 2007, Ignatiev moved to Marina di Massa, Italy. Early in the 2007 cycling season, Ignatiev made a name for himself by winning a stage of the Tour Méditerranéen and the Trofeo Laigueglia with successful late attacks. He continued his form throughout the season and won two time trials, the Prologue in Ster Elektrotoer, Stage 4 of the Regio-Tour and the first stage of Vuelta a Burgos.

In the 2009 cycling season he moved to UCI World Tour Team Katusha, a newly formed Russian cycling team, sponsored by Itera, Gazprom and Rostechnologies. In his first season, he achieved some greatest results having taken two podiums at 2009 Tour de France.

Career achievements Major results

2002

UCI Junior Track World Championships

2003

UCI Junior Track World Championships

2004

2005

2006

1st Stages 1 & 2 1st Clásica Memorial Txuma

2007 1st Trofeo Laigueglia 1st Stage 3 Tour Méditerranéen 1st Prologue Ster Elektrotoer 1st Stage 4 Regio-Tour 1st Stage 1 Vuelta a Burgos 2nd Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise 5th Tour du Haut Var

1st Fuga Gilera classification Giro d'Italia 2010 1st Stage 6 Tirreno–Adriatico 2011

2012 3rd Overall Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen 2013

3rd Overall Tour du Poitou-Charentes

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

+ Legend — Did not compete DNF Did not finish