Dario Frigo

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Dario Frigo is a former professional road cyclist from Italy. Born on September 18, 1973, in Saronno, Italy, Frigo's career spanned from the mid-1990s until the early 2000s. He was known for his abilities in both stage races and time trials, making him a versatile rider within the professional peloton.

Career

Frigo turned professional in 1996 with the Saeco team and quickly established himself as a rider to watch. Throughout his career, he achieved notable successes, including stage wins in prestigious races such as the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. Frigo's most significant victories came in stage races, where he won the overall classification of the Tour de Romandie in 2001 and the Volta a Catalunya in 2000.

Despite his successes, Frigo's career was marred by controversy. In 2001, he was expelled from the Giro d'Italia for health irregularities related to high hematocrit levels, which are often associated with the use of EPO, a banned performance-enhancing drug. This incident cast a shadow over his achievements and raised questions about doping practices within the sport.

The most significant scandal of Frigo's career occurred during the 2005 Tour de France. Police found banned substances, including EPO, in his wife's car, leading to his immediate withdrawal from the race and subsequent arrest. This incident effectively ended his professional career, and he faced legal consequences for his actions.

Post-Career and Legacy

Following his retirement, Frigo has remained largely out of the public eye. The controversies surrounding his career have contributed to ongoing discussions about doping in professional cycling and the measures necessary to combat it. Frigo's story is often cited as a cautionary tale about the pressures athletes face and the consequences of choosing to use performance-enhancing drugs.

See Also

• List of doping cases in cycling
• Performance-enhancing drugs in sports