Igor Astarloa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Igor Astarloa

Astarloa at the 2006 Rund um den Henninger Turm
Personal information
Full name	Igor Astarloa Askasibar
Born	(1976-03-29) March 29, 1976 (age 49) Ermua, Spain
Height	1.70 m
Weight	67 kg
Team information
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider (retired)
Rider type	Classics specialist
Major wins
One-day races and Classics World Road Race Championships (2003) La Flèche Wallonne (2003) Milano–Torino (2006)

Igor Astarloa Askasibar (born March 29, 1976, in Ermua, Basque Country) is a former professional cyclist from Spain. He was known for his strong performances in one-day races. He became a world champion in road cycling in 2003.

Igor Astarloa's Cycling Journey

Igor Astarloa started his professional cycling career in 2000. He joined an Italian cycling team called Mercatone Uno.

Becoming a World Champion

Astarloa had his best year in 2003. He was part of the team Saeco. That year, he won two very important races. He won the Flèche Wallonne, a famous one-day race. He also won the road race title at the World Cycling Championships in Hamilton, Canada. This made him a world champion.

Team Changes and Retirement

After his big wins, Astarloa joined Cofidis in 2004. However, this team temporarily stopped racing. This was due to some issues, and Astarloa then moved to Lampre.

Later, he rode for Team Barloworld. In 2007, he joined Team Milram. In May 2008, Team Milram ended his contract. This happened after reports about his blood test results.

Astarloa then joined the Amica Chips-Knauf team. This team stopped operating in May 2009. In June 2009, Astarloa was one of the first cyclists to be affected by a new system. This system, called the biological passport, was created to help ensure fair play in cycling. After this, Astarloa could not find another team. He decided to retire from cycling in January 2010.

Suspension and Fine

In December 2010, the Union Cycliste International (UCI) announced a decision. The Spanish Cycling Federation gave Igor Astarloa a two-year suspension. He also received a fine of €35,000. This was related to his blood test results from earlier years.

Key Achievements in Cycling

Igor Astarloa achieved many important results during his career. Here are some of his major wins and top finishes:

See also

In Spanish: Igor Astarloa para niños

• List of doping cases in cycling