Francesco Casagrande

Infobox Cyclist
ridername = Francesco Casagrande

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fullname = Francesco Casagrande
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1970|9|14
country = ITA
currentteam = Retired
discipline = Road
role = Rider
ridertype =
amateuryears =
amateurteams =
proyears = 1992-1995
1996-1997
1998
1999-2000
2001-2002
2003-2004
2004
2005
proteams = Mercatone Uno
Saeco
Cofidis
Vini Caldirola
Fassa Bortolo
Lampre
Vini Caldirola
Naturino-Sapore di Mare
majorwins =
updated = July 4 2007

Francesco Casagrande (born September 14, 1970 in Florence) is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist. Casagrande was a professional cyclist between 1992 and 2005.

Biography

He is a proven performer in the Grand Tours and the major one-day races. He wore the leader’s jersey into the penultimate stage of the 2000 Giro d'Italia, but faltered badly and wound up 2nd to fellow Italian Stefano Garzelli. Casagrande did, however, win the King of the Mountains competition and its "Maglia verde" (or green jersey) in the race.

In major one-day races, he has won the Clásica de San Sebastián in 1998 and 1999, followed by the 2000 editions of the La Flèche Wallonne and Subida a Urkiola. Also in 1999, he placed 4th in the World Cycling Championships Road Race behind Óscar Freire, Marcus Zberg, and Jean-Cyril Robin. In his early career, Casagrande won the 1996 Tirreno-Adriatico and Vuelta al País Vasco — both one-week stage races.

Casagrande also scored victories at the 2001 and 2002 Giro del Trentino and the 2002 Settimana Ciclistica Internazionale Coppi-Bartali.

Casagrande is one of the most consistent performers in the past few years and has been in the final stages of numerous races. Lacking a strong sprint, however, has kept Casagrande from more victories.

Palmarés

52 career victories including:

Major wins

* Clásica de San Sebastián (1998, 1999)
* La Flèche Wallonne (2000)
* Tour de Suisse (1999)
* Giro del Trentino (2001, 2002)
* Tirreno-Adriatico (1996)
* Vuelta al País Vasco (1996)
* Tour of Tuscany (1994)
* Tour of Emilia (1994)
* Milan-Turin (1994)
* Tour of the Apennines (1995)
* Coppa Agostoni (2001, 2003)
* Tour de Suisse (2003)
** 1 stage win
* Giro d'Italia
** 2 stage wins
** "Maglia verde" King of the Mountains
** 12 days in "Maglia rosa"

Runner-up

* Giro d'Italia (2000)
* Giro di Lombardia (2000)
* Clásica de San Sebastián (2001)
* Giro del Lazio (1999)
* HEW Cyclassics (2000)
* Giro del Veneto (1999, 2000)
* Tour of Emilia (2001, 2004)

ee also

*List of doping cases in cycling
*List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences