- Pedro Delgado
Infobox Cyclist
ridername = Pedro Delgado
image_caption = Delgado in Zaragoza at the2004 Vuelta a España
fullname = Pedro Delgado Robledo
nickname = Perico
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1960|04|15
country = ESP
currentteam = Retired
discipline = Road
role = Rider
ridertype = Climbing specialist
amateuryears =
amateurteams =
proyears = 1982-1984
1985
1986-1987
1988-1994
proteams = Reynolds Seat-Orbea PDM Reynolds/Banesto
majorwins = Tour de France (1988) Vuelta a España (1985, 1989)
updated =August 20 , 2007Pedro Delgado Robledo (born
April 15 ,1960 inSegovia ), also known as Perico, is a Spanish former professionalroad bicycle racer . He was the winner of the1988 Tour de France , and theVuelta a España in 1985 and 1989.He became an impetus for change in cycling's doping regulations after testing positive for
probenecid , a masking agent, during the1988 Tour de France . Though other sports governing bodies, such as theIOC , recognized probenecid as a doping agent, the UCI, which oversaw cycling, did not, and thus Delgado was allowed to continue in the event without sanction.He presently works as a sports commentator for
Televisión Española during large cycling events.He managed to finish his secondary school education before his professional success. He is 171
centimetre s tall (5 ft 7-1/2 in) and used to weigh 64kilogram s (141 lb), which made him highly effective in the mountain stages. He had an aggressive racing style, making cycling a spectacle, which gained him support from many fans.Arguably his most spectacular performance was not that of year of his win, but it was the following year when he made his defence of the 1988 yellow jersey. Showing up an astonishing 2'40" late for the prologue he put in a superb ride time (3rd fasted behind
Charly Mottet andGreg LeMond ), but actually finished the day last on the general clasification because the race organisors started the clock at the time Delgado should have ridden down the start ramp. He therefore became the only defending champion to begin the race proper as the last placed rider.Clearly believing he could still win the 1989 Tour de France Delgado rode the whole race on the offensive, but a weak team time trial due to temporary illness, where he would have been dropped by his team had they not waited for him more or less cost him the race, and he finished in Paris third behind LeMond and
Laurent Fignon . Even accounting for his 2'40" initial deficit Delgado would not have won the 1989 Tour because the time he lost in the team time trial.Had it not been for the constant swapping between those two riders of the yellow jersey, and that final individual time trial by LeMond to take the race by the closet ever margin, Delgado's troubled race would certainly be the biggest drama of the 1989 Tour de France.
Trivia
* His name was the inspiration for the name of the now-disbanded Scottish rock group
The Delgados .Major results
;
Tour de France
* 1983: 15th overall
* 1984: did not finish
* 1985: 6th overall; winner stage 17
* 1986: did not finish; winner stage 12
* 1987: 2nd overall; 3rd points classification; 1st stage 19;Combativity award ; 4 days inmaillot jaune
* ; 11 days in maillot jaune; winner stage 13
* 1989: 3rd overall; 2nd mountains classification
* 1990: 4th overall
* 1991: 9th overall
* 1992: 6th overall
* 1993: 9th overall;
Giro d'Italia
* 1988: 7th overall
* 1991: 15th overall;
Vuelta a España
* 1982: 29th overall
* 1983: 15th overall
* 1984: 4th overall
* 1985: 1st overall; 1 stage win
* 1986: 10th overall
* 1987: 10th overall
* 1989: 1st overall; 3 stage wins
* 1990: 2nd overall
* 1992: 10th overall; 1 stage win
* 1993: 6th overall
* 1994: 3rd overall; Other one-day races and stage races:
*Vuelta a Murcia (1981)
*Subida a Urkiola (1991)
*GP Miguel Indurain (1990)ee also
*
List of doping cases in cycling External links
* [http://www.pedrodelgado.com/ Pedro Delgado's Official Website]
*cyclingwebsite|8662
* [http://www.letour.fr/HISTO/TDF/riders/us/4612.html Official Tour de France results for Pedro Delgado]
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