Igor González de Galdeano

Infobox Cyclist
ridername = Igor González de Galdeano

---

image_caption = González de Galdeano in the 2005 Paris-Nice
fullname = Igor González de Galdeano Aranzabal
nickname = Speedy González
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1973|11|1
country = ESP
height =
weight =
currentteam = Euskaltel-Euskadi
discipline = Road
role = Technical secretary
ridertype = Time-triallist
amateurteams =
amateuryears =
proyears = 1995-1998
1999-2000
2001-2005
proteams = Euskadi
Vitalicio Seguros
O.N.C.E.
manageyears = 2006-
manageteams = Euskaltel-Euskadi
"(Technical secretary)"
majorwins = Vuelta a España, 3 stages
flagicon|ESP National Time Trial Champion (2002)
Deutschland Tour (2002)
updated = December 28, 2006

Igor González de Galdeano Aranzabal (born November 1, 1973 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country) is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer and current technical secretary at UCI ProTeam Euskaltel-Euskadi. Following a promising start to his career at Vitalicio Seguros, where he finished the 1999 Vuelta a España in second place, González de Galdeano became a key rival of Lance Armstrong in the middle of his Tour de France supremacy. In the 2002 Tour de France, González de Galdeano wore the yellow jersey for seven days and in the 2003 Vuelta a España wore the gold jersey for one day. At an average speed of 55.17 km/h, González de Galdeano also holds the record for the fastest stage win in the Vuelta a España, a feat which earned him the nickname "Speedy González".cite news | title = Galdeano announces his retirement | url = http://www.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/09/07/cycling.galdeano/index.html?eref=sitesearch | work = CNN.com | date = 2005-09-07 | accessdate = 2006-12-30]

Early racing career

González de Galdeano turned professional in 1995 with the Basque team Euskadi (which is now Euskaltel-Euskadi), which at the time was only in its second year of racing and suffering from financial hardship. [cite web | url = http://www.cycling-history.org/articles/Basque%20Lay%20out.pdf | title = Fundación Euskadi - An Emancipation of the Basque People | accessdate = 2006-12-30 | last = Hill | first = Mark A. | date = 2006-03-14 | format = PDF | work = Bikes Not Bombs: The History and Importance of Cycle Sport in the Assertion of Basque National Identity | pages = 25 | quote = during 1996 the team failed to qualify and its financially precarious set up was highlighted by delays in paying the riders during August 1996] During his three seasons at Euskadi, González de Galdeano achieved two stage victories and a number of sprints and mountains classifications.cite web | url = http://www.trap-friis.dk/cykling/spain.Gonzalez-d-G-I.htm | title = Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano Aranzabal | accessdate = 2006-12-30 | date = 2005-03-10 | work = The Large Database of Professional Cyclists] For the 1999 season, González de Galdeano moved on to the Spanish Vitalicio Seguros team, and it was in this season that González de Galdeano made a name for himself on the domestic racing scene. Early in the season, González de Galdeano won stage five [cite news | title = 34th Tirreno-Adriatico, Stage 5 Results | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/1999/mar99/ta995.html | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 1999-03-14 | accessdate = 2006-12-30] and finishing fifth in the general classification of the Tirreno-Adriatico [cite news | title = 34th Tirreno-Adriatico, Stage 8 Results | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/1999/mar99/ta998.html | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 1999-03-17 | accessdate = 2006-12-30] and adding three more top ten placings in regional Spanish stage races through the season.

Yet, González de Galdeano saved his best for the Vuelta a España in September. González de Galdeano won two stages - a 6 km prologue around Murcia [cite news | title = Vuelta a Espana 1999, Prologue Report | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/1999/vuelta99/prologue.html | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 1999-09-04 | accessdate = 2006-12-30] and a mountain stage which finished in Arcalis, Andorra. [cite news | title = Vuelta a Espana 1999, Stage 12 Report | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/1999/vuelta99/stage12.html | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 1999-09-17 | accessdate = 2006-12-30] Despite his excellent time-trialling skills, González de Galdeano eventually missed out on claiming the overall victory of the race when he lost nearly four minutes to the eventual race winner Jan Ullrich on the penultimate stage, [cite news | title = Vuelta a Espana 1999, Stage 20 Report | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/1999/vuelta99/stage20.html | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 1999-09-25 | accessdate = 2006-12-30] a time-trial, and so finished second.cite news | title = Vuelta a Espana 1999, Stage 21 Report | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/1999/vuelta99/stage21.html | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 1999-09-26 | accessdate = 2006-12-30] González de Galdeano also missed out on the points classification on the final stage when, having taken a lead into the final day, Frank Vandenbroucke was able to breakaway from the peloton and claim the points in intermediate sprints. Nevertheless, González de Galdeano had an excellent Vuelta and raised his profile immeasurably.

O.N.C.E. and the Armstrong rivalry

Following a lacklustre 2000 season and the demise of the Vitalicio Seguros squad, González de Galdeano moved to one of the top Spanish teams in O.N.C.E.-Eroski, run by Manolo Saiz. O.N.C.E. targeted the Tour de France as well as the Vuelta a España, so González de Galdeano was able to start his first Tour in 2001. [cite web | url = http://www.letour.fr/HISTO/TDF/riders/fr/788.html | title = Palmarès de Igor GONZALEZ GALDEANO (ESP) | accessdate = 2006-12-31 | date = 2006-12-14 | work = L'historique du Tour depuis 1903 | language = French] O.N.C.E. had a fresh look in this 88th edition of the Tour: Laurent Jalabert and Abraham Olano were gone and the new team leader was Joseba Beloki, who had finished third the previous year for Festina. [cite web | url = http://www.letour.fr/HISTO/TDF/2000/fr/annee.html?RaceYear=2000&x=67&y=10 | title = 2000 - 87e Tour de France | accessdate = 2006-12-31 | date = 2006-07-04 | work = L'historique du Tour depuis 1903 | language = French] It was in this Tour that González de Galdeano first demonstrated his excellent time-trialling skills to the world beyond Spain, placing second in both the short prologue around Dunkirk [cite news | first = Tim| last = Maloney| title = 88th Tour de France, Prologue Results | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/tour01/results/results_prologue.shtml | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 2001-07-07 | accessdate = 2006-12-31] and also the 61 km test from Montlucon to Saint Amand Montrond. [cite news | first = Tim| last = Maloney| title = 88th Tour de France, Stage 18 Results | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/tour01/results/results_stage_18.shtml | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 2001-07-27 | accessdate = 2006-12-31] González de Galdeano ultimately finished fifth in the Tour and helped Beloki to a second consecutive third place. [cite news | first = Tim | last = Maloney| title = 88th Tour de France, Stage 20 Results | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/tour01/results/results_stage_20.shtml | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 2001-07-29 | accessdate = 2006-12-31] González de Galdeano also had another good Vuelta, placing fourth in the first stage time-trial [cite news | first = Jeff| last = Jones| title = 2001 Vuelta, Stage 1 Results | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/vuelta01/results/results_stage_1.shtml | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 2001-09-08 | accessdate = 2006-12-31] and winning a road stage into Zaragoza, breaking clear in the final kilometre to win the fastest ever stage in the Vuelta a España at 55.176 km/h [cite news | first = Jeff| last = Jones| title = 2001 Vuelta, Stage 9 Results | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/vuelta01/results/results_stage_9.shtml | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 2001-09-16 | accessdate = 2006-12-31] and hencing coining his nickname, "Speedy González".

In 2002, with an increasing reputation as a time-triallist who was competent in the mountains, González de Galdeano formed a small rivalry with Lance Armstrong, the 1993 World Cycling Champion and already three-time winner of the Tour.cite news |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2002/tour02/?id=news/jun02/jun13 |title=Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano: A challenger for Armstrong? |first=Jeff |last=Jones |date=2002-06-13 |accessdate=2007-02-21 |work=Cyclingnews.com] In the GP Midi Libre, González de Galdeano beat Armstrong in the time-trial [cite news |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/?id=2002/may02/midi02/midi023 |title=54th Grand Prix du Midi-Libre, Stage 2 Results |work=Cyclingnews.com |accessdate=2007-02-21 |date=2002-05-26] and, following an intense ride by Armstrong in the mountains, eventually finished second in the general classification to him. [cite news |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/?id=2002/may02/midi02/midi025 |title=54th Grand Prix du Midi-Libre, Stage 5 Results |work=Cyclingnews.com |accessdate=2007-02-21 |date=2002-05-24] Battle was resumed at the Tour de France, when in the team time trial O.N.C.E.-Eroski beat Armstrong's US Postal Service squad by 16 seconds to be clear of the American by 7 seconds. [cite news |title=89th Tour de France, Stage 4 Results |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2002/tour02/?id=results/stage04 |first=Tim |last=Maloney |accessdate=2007-02-21 |date=2002-07-10 |work=Cyclingnews.com] González de Galdeano was able to retain the yellow jersey of race leader for seven stages. [cite news |title=89th Tour de France, Stage 11 Results |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2002/tour02/?id=results/stage11 |first=Tim |last=Maloney |accessdate=2007-02-21 |date=2002-07-18 |work=Cyclingnews.com] Although Armstrong did overhaul González de Galdeano and Beloki to claim his fourth Tour, O.N.C.E. improved their performance over the previous year: Beloki moved up a step on the podium to second and was clearly Armstong's principal threat, González de Galdeano once again finished fifth, and with strong riding from team mate José Azevedo, who finished sixth, O.N.C.E. were able to claim the team competition. [cite news |title=89th Tour de France, Stage 20 Results |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2002/tour02/?id=results/stage20 |first=Tim |last=Maloney |accessdate=2007-02-21 |date=2002-07-28 |work=Cyclingnews.com] González de Galdeano also added the Spanish national time trial [cite news |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/?id=2002/jun02/spain02/spain02jwrreliteitt |title=Spanish National Road Championships - Day 2 - June 28: Junior Women's Road Race, Elite/U23 Men's ITT |date=2002-06-28 |accessdate=2007-02-21 |work=Cyclingnews.com] and the overall classification in the Deutschland Tour [cite news |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/?id=2002/jun02/germany02/germany027 |title= 4th Tour of Germany, Stage 7 Results |first=Jeff |last=Jones |date=2002-06-09 |accessdate=2007-02-21 |work=Cyclingnews.com] to his record, along with a bronze medal in the world time trial championships in Zolder. [cite news |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2002/worlds02/?id=emtt |title=2002 Road World Championships, Elite Men Time Trial results |date=2002-10-10 |accessdate=2007-02-21 |first=Jeff |last=Jones |work=Cyclingnews.com]

A combination of injury and French bureaucracy prevented González de Galdeano from taking part in the 2003 Tour de France. [cite web | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2003/tour03/?id=diaries/igor/default | title = 2003 Tour de France journals - Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano | accessdate = 2006-12-30 | year = 2003 | month = July | work = Cyclingnews.com] González de Galdeano was adjudicated by the French authorities to have doped, for his use of the asthma drug salbutamol. However, the UCI did not count this as a positive test so no sanction was applied. However, the French authorities took a more stringent line and prevented him for racing on French soil for six months, over the period of the Tour. Also, González de Galdeano had a good showing at the Deutschland Tour, finishing second on the fifth stage. However, on the penultimate stage, he crashed and broke his collarbone. [cite news | first = Jeff | last = Jones | title = Deutschland Tour - Stage 6 - June 8: Bretten - Bretten ITT, 40.7 km | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2003/jun03/tourofgermany03/tourofgermany036 | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 2003-06-08 | accessdate = 2006-12-30] As such, the planned appeal against the French ban became academic and González de Galdeano had to wait for the Vuelta. The 2003 Vuelta proved to be González de Galdeano's last Grand Tour as a leading protagonist. González de Galdeano went into the Vuelta as O.N.C.E. team leader, however, young team mate Isidro Nozal rode well throughout, until the penultimate stage, a time trial in which he lost over two minutes to Roberto Heras, the eventual race winner. [cite news | first = Hernán | last = Alvarez Macías | title = 58th Vuelta a España, Stage 20 Results | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2003/vuelta03/?id=results/stage20 | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 2003-09-27 | accessdate = 2006-12-30] González de Galdeano finished fourth overall. [cite news | first = Hernán | last = Alvarez Macías | title = 58th Vuelta a España, Stage 21 Results | url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2003/vuelta03/?id=results/stage21 | work = Cyclingnews.com | date = 2003-09-28 | accessdate = 2006-12-30]

Retirement and post-racing career

By the time the 2004 Vuelta had started, González de Galdeano had fallen to the role of domestique for new team leader Heras and his lieutenant Nozal. González de Galdeano retired on his 32nd birthday, on November 1, 2005. He stated that he decided to retire at this relatively young age as "I realized in the last Tour de France that I lost my motivation." [cite web | url=http://www.bicirace.com/news/2005/20050908.html | title =Igor González de Galdeano Retires | accessdate=2006-12-28 | date=2005-08-09 | work=BiciRace.com]

As of 2006, González de Galdeano combines studying at Basque Institute of Physical Education (IVEF) with being a technical secretary at the Euskaltel-Euskadi team, where he had started his professional career in 1995. At Euskaltel, González de Galdeano's brief is to manage the team's training and to schedule the team's itineraries through the season.

References

External links

* [http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/v4/l0/s18/personnews_lng0_spo18_prs14002.shtml Eurosport Profile]
*trapfriis|spain.Gonzalez-d-G-I.htm

Persondata
NAME=González de Galdeano Aranzabal, Igor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Professional road bicycle racer
DATE OF BIRTH=1973-11-01
PLACE OF BIRTH=Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=