Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (born August 12, 1973 in Lazkao, Basque Country) is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer.
Beloki turned professional in 1998 with Euskaltel-Euskadi, joined Festina in 2000, and then Team ONCE in 2001. A strong climber in the high mountains and a top performer in individual time trials, he made it to the podium in each of his first three rides in the Tour de France: in 2000 (3rd place), 2001 (3rd place) and 200...
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Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (born August 12, 1973 in Lazkao, Basque Country) is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer.
Beloki turned professional in 1998 with Euskaltel-Euskadi, joined Festina in 2000, and then Team ONCE in 2001. A strong climber in the high mountains and a top performer in individual time trials, he made it to the podium in each of his first three rides in the Tour de France: in 2000 (3rd place), 2001 (3rd place) and 2002 (2nd place). In 2001, Beloki also finished first overall in the Volta a Catalunya.
On 14 July 2003, during the ninth stage of the 2003 Tour de France, Beloki was in second place overall (just 40 seconds behind Lance Armstrong) and negotiating a turn at speed while descending the Cote de La Rochette, just 8 km from the stage finish at Gap. He lost control of his bicycle after his rear tire came off the wheel on a patch of tarmac that was softened by the sun (the road surface temperature was reported to be 50°C, or 125°F), sending his rear...
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