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{{short description|Spanish cyclist}}
{{short description|Spanish cyclist}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Expand Spanish|Abraham Olano|fa=yes|topic=sport|date=May 2014}}
{{Expand Spanish|Abraham Olano|fa=yes|topic=sport|date=May 2014}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2009}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2009}}
}}

{{Infobox cyclist
{{Infobox cyclist
| name = Abraham Olano
| name = Abraham Olano
| image = Abraham Olano (2006).jpg
| image = Abraham Olano (2006).jpg
| full_name = Abraham Olano Manzano
| full_name = Abraham Olano Manzano
| nickname =
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|1|22}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|1|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Anoeta]], [[Spain]]
| birth_place = [[Anoeta]], Spain
| height = {{height|m=1.81}}
| height = {{height|m=1.81}}
| weight = {{convert|70|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|70|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| currentteam = Retired
| currentteam = Retired
| discipline = Road
| discipline = Road
| role = Rider
| role = Rider
| ridertype = Time-trialist
| ridertype = Time-trialist
| amateuryears1 = –
| amateuryears1 = –
| amateurteam1 = Kaiku, AVSA
| amateurteam1 = Kaiku, AVSA
| proyears1 = 1992
| proyears1 = 1992
| proteam1 = CHCS
| proteam1 = CHCS
| proyears2 = 1992
| proyears2 = 1992
| proteam2 = {{ct|FES|1992}}
| proteam2 = {{UCI team code|FES|1992}}
| proyears3 = 1993
| proyears3 = 1993
| proteam3 = {{ct|CLA|1993}}
| proteam3 = {{UCI team code|CLA|1993}}
| proyears4 = 1994–1997
| proyears4 = 1994–1997
| proteam4 = {{ct|MAP|1994}}
| proteam4 = {{UCI team code|MAP|1994}}
| proyears5 = 1997–1998
| proyears5 = 1997–1998
| proteam5 = {{ct|MOV|1997}}
| proteam5 = {{UCI team code|MOV|1997}}
| proyears6 = 1999–2002
| proyears6 = 1999–2002
| proteam6 = {{ct|ONC|1999}}
| proteam6 = {{UCI team code|ONC|1999}}
| majorwins = '''[[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]]'''
| majorwins = '''[[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]]'''
:'''[[Tour de France]]'''
:'''[[Tour de France]]'''
::1 individual stage ([[1997 Tour de France|1997]])
::1 individual stage ([[1997 Tour de France|1997]])
Line 45: Line 48:
:[[Spanish National Road Race Championships|National Road Race Championships]] (1994)
:[[Spanish National Road Race Championships|National Road Race Championships]] (1994)
:{{nowrap|[[Spanish National Time Trial Championships|National Time Trial Championships]] (1994, 1998)}}
:{{nowrap|[[Spanish National Time Trial Championships|National Time Trial Championships]] (1994, 1998)}}
| show-medals = no
| show-medals = no
| medaltemplates =
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's [[road bicycle racing]]}}
⚫
{{MedalCountry| {{flagu|Spain}} }}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[road bicycle racing]]}}
⚫
{{MedalCountry| {{ESP}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Cycling at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Individual Time Trial]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Cycling at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Individual Time Trial]]}}
Line 57: Line 59:
}}
}}


'''Abraham Olano Manzano''' (born January 22, 1970, in [[Anoeta]], [[Gipuzkoa]]) is a [[Spain|Spanish]] retired professional [[road racing cyclist]], who raced between 1992 and 2002. He won the [[UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|World Road Championship]] in [[1995 UCI Road World Championships|1995]], and the [[UCI Road World Championships – Men's time trial|World Time Trial Championship]] in [[1998 UCI Road World Championships – Men's time trial|1998]], becoming the first and so far only male cyclist to win both.
'''Abraham Olano Manzano''' (born 22 January 1970 in [[Anoeta]], [[Gipuzkoa]]) is a Spanish retired professional [[road racing cyclist]], who raced as a professional from 1992 to 2002. He won the [[UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|World Road Championship]] in [[1995 UCI Road World Championships|1995]], and the [[UCI Road World Championships – Men's time trial|World Time Trial Championship]] in [[1998 UCI Road World Championships – Men's time trial|1998]], becoming the first male cyclist to win both.<ref>{{Cite web|title=1992: Abraham Olano nació en Ordizia / Historia / Noticias del ciclismo / BICI CICLISMO|url=http://www.biciciclismo.com/es/1992-abraham-olano-nacio-en-ordizia-22-05-2020|access-date=2021-02-01|website=www.biciciclismo.com}}</ref>


He also achieved distinction in [[Grand Tours]]: he won [[Vuelta a España]] in [[1998 Vuelta a España|1998]] and was second in [[1995 Vuelta a España|1995]], made it twice to the final podium at [[Giro d'Italia]] (third in [[1996 Giro d'Italia|1996]] and second in [[2001 Giro d'Italia|2001]]), and placed three times in the top-ten at [[Tour de France]], with the fourth place in [[1997 Tour de France|1997]] as his personal best. In total he won six stages in the Vuelta and one in the Tour, all of them [[Individual time trial|time trials]].
He won [[Vuelta a España]] in [[1998 Vuelta a España|1998]], was second in [[1995 Vuelta a España|1995]], made it twice to the final podium at [[Giro d'Italia]] (third in [[1996 Giro d'Italia|1996]] and second in [[2001 Giro d'Italia|2001]]), and placed three times in the top-ten at [[Tour de France]], with the fourth place in [[1997 Tour de France|1997]] as his personal best. In total he won six stages in the Vuelta and one in the Tour, all of them [[Individual time trial|time trials]].


Olano was also double Spanish Champion in both [[Spanish National Road Race Championships|road]] (1994) and [[Spanish National Time Trial Championships|time trial]] (1994 and 1998), olympic silver medalist in [[Cycling at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's time trial|time trial in Atlanta 1996]] and winner of several shorter stage races, like [[Tour of Romandie]] in 1996 and [[Criterium International]] and [[Tirreno-Adriatico]] in 2000.
Olano was also double Spanish Champion in both [[Spanish National Road Race Championships|road]] (1994) and [[Spanish National Time Trial Championships|time trial]] (1994 and 1998), olympic silver medalist in [[Cycling at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's time trial|time trial in Atlanta 1996]] and winner of several shorter stage races, like [[Tour of Romandie]] in 1996 and [[Critérium International]] and [[Tirreno–Adriatico]] in 2000.


==Amateur career==
==Amateur career==
Olano started racing 11 years old at the Oria Cycling school, and already at junior level he won several races.<ref name=gt>{{cite web|url=http://www.giant-tours.com/pages/welcome/abraham-olano.php?lang=EN |title=Abraham Olano |publisher=Giant Tours |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212141031/http://www.giant-tours.com/pages/welcome/abraham-olano.php?lang=EN |archivedate=2012-02-12 }}</ref>
Olano started racing 11 years old at the Oria Cycling school, and already at junior level he won several races.<ref name=gt>{{cite web|url=http://www.giant-tours.com/pages/welcome/abraham-olano.php?lang=EN |title=Abraham Olano |publisher=Giant Tours |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212141031/http://www.giant-tours.com/pages/welcome/abraham-olano.php?lang=EN |archive-date=2012-02-12 }}</ref>
Later, Olano went to track racing. He became Spanish Champion in pursuit (together with Etxegoyen, Pérez and Juárez), in the 1&nbsp;km with standing start and in sprint.<ref name=gt/>
Later, Olano went to track racing. He became Spanish Champion in pursuit (together with Etxegoyen, Pérez and Juárez), in the 1&nbsp;km with standing start and in sprint.<ref name=gt/>
In road racing, he started as an amateur for Kaiku and AVSA. He was specialized in sprinting.
In road racing, he started as an amateur for Kaiku and AVSA. He was specialized in sprinting.


==Professional career==
==Professional career==
In 1992, Olano started his professional career at CHCS. This team shortly after disbanded, and he moved to Lotus. With Lotus, Olano won his first professional race, the Gran Premio de Villafranca de Ordizia in Gipuzkoa.<ref name=gt/>
In 1992, Olano started his professional career at CHCS. This team shortly after disbanded, and he moved to Lotus. With Lotus, Olano won his first professional race, the [[Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia|Gran Premio de Villafranca]] de Ordizia in Gipuzkoa.<ref name=gt/>


In 1993, Olano switched to CLAS Cajastur, which was later merged with [[Mapei]]. Here, he started to win important races, such as the [[Vuelta a Asturias]] and the [[Spanish National Road Race Championships]], both in road race and time trial.
In 1993, Olano switched to CLAS Cajastur, which was later merged with [[Mapei]]. Here, he started to win important races, such as the [[Vuelta a Asturias]] and the [[Spanish National Road Race Championships]], both in road race and time trial.


In 1995, Olano won three stages in the [[1995 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]], finishing second in overall classification to [[Laurent Jalabert]].<ref name=gt/> Later in the year Olano was a vital part of a hugely successful Spanish team at the [[World Cycling Championship]] in Colombia. In the time trial, Olano took silver, finishing second to [[Miguel Indurain]]. In the Road race, the top two positions was reversed, with Olano taking the Championship and Indurain silver. The route for the road race was one of the hardest courses ever for a World Championship, and Olano showed his stamina by riding the last kilometer solo with a flat tyre.
In 1995, Olano won three stages in the [[1995 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]], finishing second in overall classification to [[Laurent Jalabert]].<ref name=gt/> Later in the year Olano was a vital part of a hugely successful Spanish team at the [[World Cycling Championship]] in Colombia.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1995-10-08|title=Gesta española en Colombia|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1995/10/09/deportes/813193223_850215.html|access-date=2021-02-01|issn=1134-6582}}</ref> In the time trial, Olano took silver, finishing second to [[Miguel Induráin]]. In the road race, the top two positions was reversed, with Olano taking the championship and Indurain silver. The route for the road race was one of the hardest courses ever for a World Championship, and Olano showed his stamina by riding the last kilometer solo with a flat tyre.


Olano established his abilities in stage races in 1996; he won the [[Tour de Romandie]], finished third in the [[1996 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]] (leading the race at the second to last day), and finished ninth in the [[1996 Tour de France|Tour de France]]. He also won the silver medal in the time trial at the [[1996 Olympic Games]], losing out to Miguel Indurain by a margin of only 12 seconds.<ref name=gt/>
Olano established his abilities in stage races in 1996; he won the [[Tour de Romandie]], finished third in the [[1996 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]] (leading the race at the second to last day), and finished ninth in the [[1996 Tour de France|Tour de France]]. He also won the silver medal in the time trial at the [[1996 Olympic Games]], losing out to Miguel Induráin by a margin of only 12 seconds.<ref name=gt/>


Olano finished fourth in the [[1997 Tour de France]], taking 1 stage win - a long time trial in Disneyland, ahead of the eventual Tour winner [[Jan Ullrich]].
Olano finished fourth in the [[1997 Tour de France]], taking 1 stage win – a long time trial in Disneyland, ahead of the eventual Tour winner [[Jan Ullrich]].


In 1998, Olano won his only grand tour, the [[1998 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]],<ref name=gt/> fighting off furious challenges from mountain specialists[[Fernando Escartin]] and [[Roberto Heras]] as well as fellow all-rounders [[Laurent Jalabert]] and [[Alex Zülle]], all at the height of their careers. Despite the victory, Olano was reportedly not happy with the support from the Banesto team and management. Banestos own mountain specialist [[José Maria Jimenez]] took 4 stage wins, on several occasions leaving Olano alone on the climbs, and even taking the Yellow Jersey from his team captain. Olano won back the jersey on the second time trial, but the events and subsequent media speculation soured his relationship with Banesto, and he decided for a switch to the ONCE team for the following season.
In 1998, Olano won his only grand tour, the [[1998 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]],<ref name=gt/> fighting off furious challenges from mountain specialists [[Fernando Escartín]] and [[Roberto Heras]] as well as fellow all-rounders [[Laurent Jalabert]] and [[Alex Zülle]], all at the height of their careers. Despite the victory, Olano was reportedly not happy with the support from the Banesto team and management. Banesto's own mountain specialist [[José María Jiménez]] took 4 stage wins, on several occasions leaving Olano alone on the climbs, and even taking the Yellow Jersey from his team captain. Olano won back the jersey on the second time trial, but the events and subsequent media speculation soured his relationship with Banesto, and he decided for a switch to the ONCE team for the following season.


Olano finished 1998 in style, winning the World Championship Time Trial i Valkenburg, ahead of compatriot [[Melcior Mauri]]. Olano is the only male rider of the modern era to win the world Championship in both the Road race (1995) and the time trial (1998).
Olano finished 1998 in style, winning the World Championship time trial in Valkenburg, ahead of compatriot [[Melcior Mauri]]. Olano was the first male rider of the modern era to win the World Championship in both the road race (1995) and the time trial (1998).


In 1999, Olano was back to defend the Vuelta title. In the prologue, severe rains put the late starters (including most of the GC contenders) at a big disadvantage, but Olano nevertheless managed to take 2nd place. In the stage 7 time trial, Olano won with a clear margin to main challenger [[Jan Ullrich]], taking the top spot on the GC and the Yellow Jersey. Olano defended his lead through several mountain stages, but a crash on the stage to Alto de Angliru cost him a broken rib, and he was eventually forced to abandon the race.
In 1999, Olano was back to defend the Vuelta title. In the prologue, severe rains put the late starters (including most of the GC contenders) at a big disadvantage, but Olano nevertheless managed to take 2nd place. In the stage 7 time trial, Olano won with a clear margin to main challenger [[Jan Ullrich]], taking the top spot on the GC and the Yellow Jersey. Olano defended his lead through several mountain stages, but a crash on the stage to Alto de Angliru cost him a broken rib, and he was eventually forced to abandon the race.


In 2000, Olano made a shift in focusing on shorter stage races, and won [[Tirreno-Adriatico]] and [[Criterium International]], among others. He would make his last mark at the grand Tours with a 2nd place in the [[2001 Giro d'Italia]]. He retired from racing in 2002.<ref name="gt" />
In 2000, Olano made a shift in focusing on shorter stage races, and won [[Tirreno–Adriatico]] and [[Critérium International]], among others. He would make his last mark at the grand Tours with a 2nd place in the [[2001 Giro d'Italia]]. He retired from racing in 2002.<ref name="gt" />


On account of results early in his career, a Basque background and some physical similarities, Olano was seen by many supporters as the successor to five-times Tour de France winner [[Miguel Indurain]]. The comparison would haunt Olano for all of his career, as he went on to have a career that was very successful by almost any other standard. Olano was one of the very best time trialists of his generation, and a rider with enormous stamina. However, he was a reluctant climber, and a tendency to lose valuable time to the specialists on the steepest and highest climbs, would keep his number of Grand Tour Wins to 1.
On account of results early in his career, a Basque background and some physical similarities, Olano was seen by many supporters as the successor to five-times Tour de France winner [[Miguel Induráin]]. The comparison would haunt Olano for all of his career, as he went on to have a career that was very successful by almost any other standard. Olano was one of the very best time trialists of his generation, and a rider with enormous stamina. However, he was a reluctant climber, and a tendency to lose valuable time to the specialists on the steepest and highest climbs, would keep his number of Grand Tour wins to one.


==Doping revelations==
==Doping revelations==
Olano is one of the people responsible for designing stages for the [[Vuelta a España]].<ref name=gt/> He was fired from this position after a report from the French senate revealed that he had delivered a suspicious sample during the [[1998 Tour de France]], indicating use of [[Erythropoietin|EPO]].<ref name=guardian24oct12>{{cite web|title=Zabel "geht in sich", Olano gefeuert|url=http://de.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/radsport-zabel-geht-olano-leugnet-102054895.html|publisher=Eurosport|accessdate=25 July 2013|date=25 July 2013|language=German|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728101929/http://de.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/radsport-zabel-geht-olano-leugnet-102054895.html|archivedate=28 July 2013}}</ref> The [[International Olympic Committee]] also refused to give the bronze medal to him, since [[Lance Armstrong]] had been doping like him.
Olano is one of the people responsible for designing stages for the [[Vuelta a España]].<ref name=gt/> He was fired from this position after a report from the French senate revealed that he had delivered a suspicious sample during the [[1998 Tour de France]], indicating use of [[Erythropoietin|EPO]].<ref name=eurosport25jul2013>{{cite web|title=Zabel "geht in sich", Olano gefeuert|url=http://de.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/radsport-zabel-geht-olano-leugnet-102054895.html|publisher=Eurosport|access-date=25 July 2013|date=25 July 2013|language=de|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728101929/http://de.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/radsport-zabel-geht-olano-leugnet-102054895.html|archive-date=28 July 2013}}</ref> The [[International Olympic Committee]] also refused to give the bronze medal to him, since [[Lance Armstrong]] had been doping like him.


==Later life==
==Later life==
In November 2006 Olano ran the San Sebastian marathon in a time of 2:39:19. In October 2015, he took over as new national coach for Gabon, with the task of building the national team "from scratch".<ref>http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/abraham-olano-becomes-gabon-national-coach/</ref>
In November 2006 Olano ran the San Sebastián marathon in a time of 2:39:19. In October 2015, he took over as new national coach for Gabon, with the task of building the national team "from scratch".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/abraham-olano-becomes-gabon-national-coach/ |title=Abraham Olano becomes Gabon national coach |first=Alasdair |last=Fotheringham |date=8 October 2015 |access-date=28 December 2021 |work=[[Cycling News]] |publisher=[[Future plc]]}}</ref>


==Career achievements==
==Career achievements==
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;1992
;1992
: 1st [[Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia]]
: 1st [[Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia]]
: 3rd [[Clasica de Almeria]]
: 3rd [[Clásica de Almería]]
;1994
;1994
: National Road Championships
: National Road Championships
Line 132: Line 134:
: 1st [[Grand Prix Eddy Merckx]]
: 1st [[Grand Prix Eddy Merckx]]
: 2nd Overall [[1997 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré|Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré]]
: 2nd Overall [[1997 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré|Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré]]
: 3rd Overall [[Vuelta a Aragon]]
: 3rd Overall [[Vuelta a Aragón]]
: 4th Overall [[1997 Tour de France|Tour de France]]
: 4th Overall [[1997 Tour de France|Tour de France]]
::1st Stage 20 ([[Individual time trial|ITT]])
::1st Stage 20 ([[Individual time trial|ITT]])
Line 325: Line 327:
| Did not compete
| Did not compete
|-
|-
! scope="row" | [[Did Not Finish|DNF]]
! scope="row" | [[Did not finish|DNF]]
| Did not finish
| Did not finish
|}
|}
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[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Basque cyclists]]
[[Category:Spanish male cyclists]]
[[Category:Spanish male cyclists]]
[[Category:Spanish Tour de France stage winners]]
[[Category:Spanish Tour de France stage winners]]
[[Category:Vuelta a España winners]]
[[Category:Vuelta a España winners]]
[[Category:Olympic cyclists of Spain]]
[[Category:Olympic cyclists for Spain]]
[[Category:Cyclists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Cyclists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Cyclists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Cyclists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
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[[Category:Olympic medalists in cycling]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in cycling]]
[[Category:People from Tolosaldea]]
[[Category:People from Tolosaldea]]
⚫
[[Category:Vuelta a España cyclists]]
[[Category:Tour de France cyclists]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Cyclists from Gipuzkoa]]
⚫
[[Category:Vuelta a Asturias winners]]

Latest revision as of 01:41, 26 January 2024

Abraham Olano
Personal information
Full nameAbraham Olano Manzano
Born (1970-01-22) 22 January 1970 (age 54)
Anoeta, Spain
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb; 11 st 0 lb)
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeTime-trialist
Amateur team
–Kaiku, AVSA
Professional teams
1992CHCS
1992Lotus–Festina
1993CLAS–Cajastur
1994–1997Mapei–CLAS
1997–1998Banesto
1999–2002ONCE–Deutsche Bank
Major wins
Grand Tours
Tour de France
1 individual stage (1997)
1 TTT stage (2002)
Vuelta a España
General classification (1998)
6 individual stages (1995, 1998, 1999, 2000)

Stage races

Tour de Romandie (1996)
Tirreno–Adriatico (2000)
Critérium International (2000)

One-day races and Classics

World Road Race Championships (1995)
World Time Trial Championships (1998)
National Road Race Championships (1994)
National Time Trial Championships (1994, 1998)
Medal record
Men's road bicycle racing
Representing  Spain
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta Individual Time Trial
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1995 Duitama Elite Men's Road Race
Gold medal – first place 1998 Valkenburg Elite Men's Time Trial
Silver medal – second place 1995 Duitama Elite Men's Time Trial

Abraham Olano Manzano (born 22 January 1970 in Anoeta, Gipuzkoa) is a Spanish retired professional road racing cyclist, who raced as a professional from 1992 to 2002. He won the World Road Championship in 1995, and the World Time Trial Championship in 1998, becoming the first male cyclist to win both.[1]

He won Vuelta a España in 1998, was second in 1995, made it twice to the final podium at Giro d'Italia (third in 1996 and second in 2001), and placed three times in the top-ten at Tour de France, with the fourth place in 1997 as his personal best. In total he won six stages in the Vuelta and one in the Tour, all of them time trials.

Olano was also double Spanish Champion in both road (1994) and time trial (1994 and 1998), olympic silver medalist in time trial in Atlanta 1996 and winner of several shorter stage races, like Tour of Romandie in 1996 and Critérium International and Tirreno–Adriatico in 2000.

Amateur career[edit]

Olano started racing 11 years old at the Oria Cycling school, and already at junior level he won several races.[2] Later, Olano went to track racing. He became Spanish Champion in pursuit (together with Etxegoyen, Pérez and Juárez), in the 1 km with standing start and in sprint.[2] In road racing, he started as an amateur for Kaiku and AVSA. He was specialized in sprinting.

Professional career[edit]

In 1992, Olano started his professional career at CHCS. This team shortly after disbanded, and he moved to Lotus. With Lotus, Olano won his first professional race, the Gran Premio de Villafranca de Ordizia in Gipuzkoa.[2]

In 1993, Olano switched to CLAS Cajastur, which was later merged with Mapei. Here, he started to win important races, such as the Vuelta a Asturias and the Spanish National Road Race Championships, both in road race and time trial.

In 1995, Olano won three stages in the Vuelta a España, finishing second in overall classification to Laurent Jalabert.[2] Later in the year Olano was a vital part of a hugely successful Spanish team at the World Cycling Championship in Colombia.[3] In the time trial, Olano took silver, finishing second to Miguel Induráin. In the road race, the top two positions was reversed, with Olano taking the championship and Indurain silver. The route for the road race was one of the hardest courses ever for a World Championship, and Olano showed his stamina by riding the last kilometer solo with a flat tyre.

Olano established his abilities in stage races in 1996; he won the Tour de Romandie, finished third in the Giro d'Italia (leading the race at the second to last day), and finished ninth in the Tour de France. He also won the silver medal in the time trial at the 1996 Olympic Games, losing out to Miguel Induráin by a margin of only 12 seconds.[2]

Olano finished fourth in the 1997 Tour de France, taking 1 stage win – a long time trial in Disneyland, ahead of the eventual Tour winner Jan Ullrich.

In 1998, Olano won his only grand tour, the Vuelta a España,[2] fighting off furious challenges from mountain specialists Fernando Escartín and Roberto Heras as well as fellow all-rounders Laurent Jalabert and Alex Zülle, all at the height of their careers. Despite the victory, Olano was reportedly not happy with the support from the Banesto team and management. Banesto's own mountain specialist José María Jiménez took 4 stage wins, on several occasions leaving Olano alone on the climbs, and even taking the Yellow Jersey from his team captain. Olano won back the jersey on the second time trial, but the events and subsequent media speculation soured his relationship with Banesto, and he decided for a switch to the ONCE team for the following season.

Olano finished 1998 in style, winning the World Championship time trial in Valkenburg, ahead of compatriot Melcior Mauri. Olano was the first male rider of the modern era to win the World Championship in both the road race (1995) and the time trial (1998).

In 1999, Olano was back to defend the Vuelta title. In the prologue, severe rains put the late starters (including most of the GC contenders) at a big disadvantage, but Olano nevertheless managed to take 2nd place. In the stage 7 time trial, Olano won with a clear margin to main challenger Jan Ullrich, taking the top spot on the GC and the Yellow Jersey. Olano defended his lead through several mountain stages, but a crash on the stage to Alto de Angliru cost him a broken rib, and he was eventually forced to abandon the race.

In 2000, Olano made a shift in focusing on shorter stage races, and won Tirreno–Adriatico and Critérium International, among others. He would make his last mark at the grand Tours with a 2nd place in the 2001 Giro d'Italia. He retired from racing in 2002.[2]

On account of results early in his career, a Basque background and some physical similarities, Olano was seen by many supporters as the successor to five-times Tour de France winner Miguel Induráin. The comparison would haunt Olano for all of his career, as he went on to have a career that was very successful by almost any other standard. Olano was one of the very best time trialists of his generation, and a rider with enormous stamina. However, he was a reluctant climber, and a tendency to lose valuable time to the specialists on the steepest and highest climbs, would keep his number of Grand Tour wins to one.

Doping revelations[edit]

Olano is one of the people responsible for designing stages for the Vuelta a España.[2] He was fired from this position after a report from the French senate revealed that he had delivered a suspicious sample during the 1998 Tour de France, indicating use of EPO.[4] The International Olympic Committee also refused to give the bronze medal to him, since Lance Armstrong had been doping like him.

Later life[edit]

In November 2006 Olano ran the San Sebastián marathon in a time of 2:39:19. In October 2015, he took over as new national coach for Gabon, with the task of building the national team "from scratch".[5]

Career achievements[edit]

Major results[edit]

1992
1st Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia
3rd Clásica de Almería
1994
National Road Championships
1st Road race
1st Time trial
1st Overall Clásica Internacional de Alcobendas
1st Overall Vuelta a Asturias
5th Time trial, UCI Road World Championships
1995
UCI Road World Championships
1st Road race
2nd Time trial
2nd Overall Vuelta a España
1st Prologue, Stages 7 (ITT) & 20 (ITT)
4th Overall Paris–Nice
1996
1st Overall Tour de Romandie
1st Stage 6 (ITT)
1st Overall Tour of Galicia
2nd Time trial, Olympic Games
2nd Road race, National Road Championships
2nd GP du Canton d'Argovie
3rd Overall Giro d'Italia
Held after Stage 20
3rd Overall Tour of the Basque Country
8th Time trial, UCI Road World Championships
9th Overall Tour de France
1997
1st Overall Euskal Bizikleta
1st Stage 4b (ITT)
1st Grand Prix Eddy Merckx
2nd Overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
3rd Overall Vuelta a Aragón
4th Overall Tour de France
1st Stage 20 (ITT)
1998
1st Time trial, UCI Road World Championships
1st Time trial, National Road Championships
1st Overall Vuelta a España
1st Stage 9 (ITT)
1st Overall Euskal Bizikleta
1st Stage 4b (ITT)
1st Vuelta Ciclista a La Rioja
1st Grand Prix Eddy Merckx
6th Overall Volta a Catalunya
1999
1st Overall Vuelta a Burgos
1st Stage 6 (ITT) Vuelta a España
6th Overall Tour de France
2000
1st Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Stage 5
1st Overall Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
1st Stage 5b (ITT)
1st Overall Critérium International
1st Stage 8 (ITT) Vuelta a España
4th Time trial, Olympic Games
5th Time trial, UCI Road World Championships
8th Overall Tour Méditerranéen
2001
1st Overall Clásica de Alcobendas
2nd Overall Giro d'Italia
7th GP Primavera
2002
1st Stage 4 (TTT) Tour de France
2nd Road race, National Road Championships

General classification results timeline[edit]

Grand Tour general classification results
Grand Tour 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Pink jersey Giro d'Italia — — — 3 — — — — 2 —
Yellow jersey Tour de France DNF 30 — 9 4 DNF 6 34 — 78
Yellow jersey/Gold jersey Vuelta a España — 20 2 — DNF 1 DNF 19 64 —
Major stage race general classification results
Race 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
/ Paris–Nice 28 — 4 24 — — — — — —
Tirreno–Adriatico — — — — — — 68 1 31 52
Tour of the Basque Country 97 13 DNF 3 8 DNF 40 DNF 13 37
/ Tour de Romandie — — — 1 — — — — — —
Critérium du Dauphiné — — — — 2 — — 18 — —
Volta a Catalunya — 21 DNF — — 6 11 — — —
Tour de Suisse 29 — — — — — — — — —
Legend
— Did not compete
DNF Did not finish

References[edit]

  1. ^ "1992: Abraham Olano nació en Ordizia / Historia / Noticias del ciclismo / BICI CICLISMO". www.biciciclismo.com. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Abraham Olano". Giant Tours. Archived from the original on 2012-02-12.
  3. ^ "Gesta española en Colombia". El País (in Spanish). 1995-10-08. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  4. ^ "Zabel "geht in sich", Olano gefeuert" (in German). Eurosport. 25 July 2013. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  5. ^ Fotheringham, Alasdair (8 October 2015). "Abraham Olano becomes Gabon national coach". Cycling News. Future plc. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

External links[edit]

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