Franco Pellizotti

Tour de France 2009, pellizotti (21579525064)

Giro d'Italia 2017, pellizotti (34343448003)

Jersey green

Jersey green

Jersey polkadot

Franco Pellizotti (born 15 January 1978 in Latisana, Italy) is a retired professional road bicycle racer who competed in international elite cycling from 2001 to 2018. Pellizotti's career is marked by notable achievements including stage wins in the Giro d'Italia and a victory in the 2009 Giro d'Italia Mountains Classification, making him one of the prominent Italian climbers of his time. However, his career was also marred by a doping controversy that led to a suspension.

Career

Franco Pellizotti turned professional in 2001 with the Alessio-Bianchi team and quickly made a name for himself as a talented climber and stage racer. Over his career, he rode for several teams, including Liquigas and Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, showcasing his abilities in Europe's most challenging races.

Giro d'Italia

Pellizotti's performances in the Giro d'Italia were a significant highlight of his career. He won multiple stages and was a consistent presence in the general classification battles. His victory in the 2009 Mountains Classification, where he wore the Maglia Verde (Green Jersey), was a testament to his climbing prowess. However, his 3rd place finish in the 2009 Giro d'Italia was later annulled due to doping violations.

Tour de France

Pellizotti also competed in the Tour de France, where he was known for his aggressive riding and attempts to win stages. His best overall finish in the Tour de France came in 2009, where he finished 9th, but this result was also annulled due to the aforementioned doping issues.

Doping Controversy

In 2010, Pellizotti was provisionally suspended by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) due to irregularities in his biological passport, which suggested doping. This led to his exclusion from the Tour de France that year. In 2011, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld his suspension, sidelining him for two years and stripping him of results obtained from May 2009 onwards, including his Giro d'Italia stage wins and mountains classification victory.

Comeback

After serving his suspension, Pellizotti returned to professional cycling in 2012 with the Androni Giocattoli team. He continued to compete at a high level, participating in Grand Tours and other major races, though he did not achieve the same level of success as before his suspension. Pellizotti retired from professional cycling at the end of the 2018 season.

Legacy

Franco Pellizotti's career is a mix of significant achievements and the shadow of doping. While he demonstrated exceptional talent and achieved notable victories, his legacy in the sport is complicated by the doping controversy that led to a significant suspension and the annulment of some of his most important results.