Tom Zirbel

Tom Zirbel at the Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay 2012

Tom Zirbel (born October 30, 1978 in Boulder ) is an American cyclist .

Tom Zirbel began his career in 2006 with the US Continental Team Priority Health . In his first year there, he won a stage and the overall standings in the Valley of the Sun Stage Race. He was also successful on sections of the Tour of Shenandoah, the Tour de Nez, the Cascade Cycling Classic and the Parker Mainstreet Omnium. In the 2007 season he won a stage in the Tour of Southland . In a doping sample taken on August 29, 2009, Tom Zirbel was found in the A sample doping with the steroid hormone DHEA. In January 2010 he announced that the B sample was also positive. He was fired from his new Garmin-Transitions team. On February 27, 2010, Zirbel received a two-year ban until December 28, 2011 and then declared that he would end his career.

In March 2011, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) shortened Zirbel's ban by half a year because he had helped clear up further doping cases. The suspension then ended on March 21, 2011, and Zirbel decided to race again as a professional. He signed a contract with Team Jamis-Sutter Home and started the California Tour in May 2011 .