ONCE (cycling team)












































ONCE

Johan BRUYNEEL.jpg
The team at the 1993 Tour de France

Team information
UCI code ONC
Registered Spain
Founded 1989 (1989)
Disbanded 2006
Discipline Road
Status ProTour
Key personnel
General manager Manolo Saiz
Team name history
1989–1998
1999–2000
2001–2003
2004
2005–2006
2006
2006
2006
ONCE
ONCE–Deutsche Bank
ONCE–Eroski
Liberty Seguros
Liberty Seguros–Würth
Würth Team
Astana–Würth Team
Astana Team

ONCE cycling team, (UCI team code: ONC) also known as Liberty Seguros, Liberty Seguros–Würth and in succession in its final year, Astana–Würth and Astana was a Spanish cycling team. It competed in the UCI ProTour circuit.


On 25 May 2006, Liberty Mutual ("seguros" means "insurance" in Spanish) pulled out of primary sponsorship due to a doping scandal involving the directeur sportif, Manolo Saiz. On 2 June 2006, the team acquired a primary sponsor named Astana, after the capital of Kazakhstan. Würth was co-sponsor until 3 July 2006, withdrawing at the end of the 2006 Tour de France, in which Astana–Würth didn't compete [1] [2]. At the end of the season, Astana also withdrew due to the non-participation in the Tour. On 16 December 2006, the UCI withdrew the ProTour licence of Saiz's company, Active Bay [3].


Some riders and staff formed the Kazakhstan-based Astana Team.




Contents






  • 1 History


    • 1.1 ONCE


    • 1.2 Liberty Seguros


    • 1.3 Sponsorship Changes and 2006 Season




  • 2 Victories


    • 2.1 2003 results


    • 2.2 2004 results


    • 2.3 2005 results


    • 2.4 2006 results




  • 3 Notable riders


  • 4 References


  • 5 External links





History



ONCE


The team traces its lineage to the Spanish team, ONCE, sponsored by a lottery for the blind. Manolo Saiz, one of few managers who was not a former rider, introduced more professional management, closer supervision in coaching, equipment and training. In the 2003 Vuelta he was banned from the race after insulting a motorcycle-mounted TV cameraman, his comments broadcast live.


ONCE team was known for its association with Laurent Jalabert and Alex Zülle in the 1990s, dominating spring races such as Paris–Nice, La Flèche Wallonne and the Tour de Romandie. The team won the Vuelta a España in 1995, 1996 and 1997. It dominated the 1995 Vuelta with Jalabert winning overall, the points competition and the mountains. It was also best team, with Johan Bruyneel third. Bruyneel became a directeur sportif and helped Lance Armstrong win seven consecutive Tours de France. ONCE team in the Tour de France had stage wins from Jalabert and domination in the team time trial.


Zülle won the Vuelta in 1996 and 1997 but left the team in 1998. The team signed the 1998 winner and individual time trial specialist, Abraham Olano, who challenged in the 1999 Vuelta but never won a second Grand Tour. Joseba Beloki became leader and challenged Armstrong in the 2002 and 2003 Tours.


Isidro Nozal led the 2003 Vuelta until Roberto Heras took the lead on the penultimate day. ONCE's sponsorship was so successful that brand penetration was 100% in Spain, meaning every Spaniard surveyed knew ONCE. At the end of 2003 ONCE stopped sponsorship. Saiz obtained a new sponsor, Liberty Mutual. Most of the riders stayed, including Isidro Nozal and Igor González de Galdeano. Saiz signed Heras; he did not perform well at the 2004 Tour de France but won the 2004 Vuelta after a battle with Santiago Pérez.



Liberty Seguros


In the 2005 the team started with wins in the Tour Down Under through Alberto Contador and Luis León Sánchez. In the 2005 Tour the team won the stage to Mende courtesy of Marcos Antonio Serrano, reminiscent of Laurent Jalabert's win in 1995.


Alexander Vinokourov joined in 2006 for three seasons to challenge for top finish in the Tour de France. Fellow Kazakhstan riders Andrei Kashechkin, formerly of Crédit Agricole, and Sergei Yakovlev also joined.


On 25 November, Roberto Heras was fired after a urine sample from the 2005 Vuelta a España, which he had won, tested positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO. Heras was stripped of what would have been a record-breaking fourth win and banned for two years.



Sponsorship Changes and 2006 Season


On 23 May 2006, Saiz was arrested in relation to the Operación Puerto blood doping scandal. Liberty Mutual retracted sponsorship on 25 May 2006, promising only to finance current obligations. On 2 June 2006, the team acquired a new primary sponsor - named Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan - for three years, with an option to extend to six. It was headed by a consortium of five Kazakh companies.[1][2] Long before Saiz was ensnared in Operación Puerto, the team had been notorious for doping dating back to its days as ONCE, and was considered one of the dirtiest teams in the European peloton.[3]


On June 30, 2006, Astana-Würth was excluded from the 2006 Tour de France after five riders were implicated in a doping scandal, leaving Vinokourov with three remaining teammates, below the minimum six for the Tour. Würth stopped its commitment on 3 of July.


On 26 July 2006, the five riders excluded from the Tour were cleared by Spanish officials,[4] and the team returned to competition at the Tour of Germany in August, Assan Bazayev winning the first stage. One rider, Joseba Beloki, would never ride a professional race again.


At the end of 2006, Saiz listed Astana as his team's backer. Astana also claimed to have withdrawn support due to non-participation in the Tour.[5] On 16 December 2006, the UCI withdrew the ProTour license of Saiz's Active Bay company.[6]



Victories



2003 results









































































































Date
Race
Location
Winner
2003-02-04 Trofeo Alcudia
 Spain

Allan Davis
2003-03-15 Stage 6, Paris–Nice

 France

Joaquim Rodríguez
2003-04-08 Stage 2, Tour of the Basque Country

 Spain

Angel Vicioso
2003-04-11 Stage 4, Circuit de la Sarthe

 France

Allan Davis
2003-04-27 Stage 3, Vuelta a La Rioja

 Spain

Jan Hruška
2003-05-11 Stage 2b, Clasica a Alcobendas

 Spain

Joseba Beloki
2003-05-11 Overall, Clasica a Alcobendas

 Spain

Joseba Beloki
2003-06-07 Stage 5, Deutschland Tour

 Germany

José Azevedo
2003-06-08 Stage 5, Euskal Bizikleta

 Spain

Joseba Beloki
2003-06-16 Stage 1, Volta a Catalunya

 Spain

ONCE-Eroski
2003-06-22 Stage 7, Volta a Catalunya

 Spain

Angel Vicioso
2003-09-06 Stage 1, Vuelta a España

 Spain

ONCE-Eroski
2003-09-11 Stage 6, Vuelta a España

 Spain

Isidro Nozal
2003-09-13 Stage 8, Vuelta a España

 Spain

Joaquim Rodríguez
2003-09-14 Stage 7b Tour de Pologne

 Poland

Alberto Contador
2003-09-19 Stage 13, Vuelta a España

 Spain

Isidro Nozal


2004 results



































































































Date
Race
Location
Winner
2004-02-01 Trofeo Mallorca
 Spain

Allan Davis
2004-02-04 Trofeo Manacor
 Spain

Allan Davis
2004-05-02 Overall, Vuelta a Castilla y León

 Spain

Koldo Gil
2004-05-09 Stage 3, Clasica a Alcobendas

 Spain

Luis Leon Sanchez
2004-05-12 Stage 1, Vuelta a Asturias

 Spain

Luis Leon Sanchez
2004-05-14 Stage 3, Vuelta a Asturias

 Spain

Carlos Barredo
2004-06-04 Stage 5, Deutschland Tour

 Germany

Allan Davis
2004-06-04 Stage 3, Euskal Bizikleta

 Spain

Angel Vicioso
2004-06-05 Stage 4b, Euskal Bizikleta

 Spain

Angel Vicioso
2004-06-06 Overall, Euskal Bizikleta

 Spain

Roberto Heras
2004-09-08 Stage 3, Tour de Pologne

 Poland

Allan Davis
2004-09-16 Stage 12, Vuelta a España

 Spain

Roberto Heras
2004-09-26 Overall, Vuelta a España Jersey gold.svg

 Spain

Roberto Heras
2004-10-13 Milano–Torino
 Italy

Marcos Serrano
2004-10-14 Giro del Piemonte
 Italy

Allan Davis


2005 results







































































































































Date
Race
Location
Winner
2005-01-20 Stage 3, Tour Down Under

 Australia

Luis Leon Sanchez
2005-01-22 Stage 5, Tour Down Under

 Australia

Alberto Contador
2005-01-23 Overall, Tour Down Under Jersey orange.svg

 Australia

Luis Leon Sanchez
2005-03-04 Stage 3, Vuelta a Murcia

 Spain

Allan Davis
2005-03-06 Stage 5, Vuelta a Murcia

 Spain

Allan Davis
2005-03-06 Overall, Vuelta a Murcia

 Spain

Koldo Gil
2005-03-23 Stage 3, Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme

 Spain

Alberto Contador
2005-03-25 Overall, Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme

 Spain

Alberto Contador
2005-04-08 Stage 5b, Tour of the Basque Country

 Spain

Alberto Contador
2005-04-10 Klasika Primavera
 Spain

David Etxebarria
2005-04-17 Stage 5, Vuelta a Aragon

 Spain

Allan Davis
2005-04-30 Stage 4, Tour de Romandie

  Switzerland

Alberto Contador
2005-05-08 Stage 3, Clasica a Alcobendas

 Spain

Luis Leon Sanchez
2005-05-14 Stage 7, Giro d'Italia

 Italy

Koldo Gil
2005-06-01 Stage 1, Euskal Bizikleta

 Spain

Angel Vicioso
2005-06-04 Stage 4a, Euskal Bizikleta

 Spain

Angel Vicioso
2005-07-21 Stage 18, Tour de France

 France

Marcos Serrano
2005-08-06 Stage 3, Eneco Tour

 Netherlands

Allan Davis
2005-09-01 Stage 6, Vuelta a España

 Spain

Roberto Heras
2005-09-04 Stage 4, Tour de l'Avenir

 France

Koen de Kort
2005-09-11 Stage 15, Vuelta a España

 Spain

Roberto Heras


2006 results





















































































































Date
Race
Location
Winner
2006-01-19 Stage 2, Tour Down Under

 Australia

Allan Davis
2006-01-20 Stage 3, Tour Down Under

 Australia

Carlos Barredo
2006-01-22 Stage 5, Tour Down Under

 Australia

Allan Davis
2006-03-11 Stage 6, Paris–Nice

 France

Andrey Kashechkin
2006-03-24 Stage 5, Vuelta a Castilla y León

 Spain

Alexander Vinokourov
2006-03-24 Overall, Vuelta a Castilla y León

 Spain

Alexander Vinokourov
2006-04-28 Stage 3, Tour de Romandie

  Switzerland

Alberto Contador
2006-06-13 Stage 4, Tour de Suisse

  Switzerland

Angel Vicioso
2006-06-14
Kazakhstan National Road Race Championship

 Kazakhstan

Andrey Kashechkin
2006-06-17 Stage 8, Tour de Suisse

  Switzerland

Alberto Contador
2006-08-02 Stage 1, Deutschland Tour

 Germany

Assan Bazayev
2006-08-06 Stage 1, Vuelta a Burgos

 Spain

Aaron Kemps
2006-09-02 Stage 8, Vuelta a España

 Spain

Alexander Vinokourov
2006-09-03 Stage 9, Vuelta a España

 Spain

Alexander Vinokourov
2006-09-05 Stage 10, Vuelta a España

 Spain

Sérgio Paulinho
2006-09-14 Stage 18, Vuelta a España

 Spain

Andrey Kashechkin
2006-09-16 Stage 20, Vuelta a España

 Spain

Alexander Vinokourov
2006-09-17 Overall, Vuelta a España Jersey gold.svg

 Spain

Alexander Vinokourov


Notable riders





Alex Zülle





Laurent Jalabert





Joseba Beloki




























































































































































































Name
Nationality
Years

Eduardo Chozas

 Spain
1989–1991

Anselmo Fuerte

 Spain
1990–1992

Marino Lejarreta

 Spain
1990–1992

Melchior Mauri

 Spain
1990–1992, 1995–1998

Juan Llaneras

 Spain
1991–1995

Alex Zülle

  Switzerland
1991–1997

Johan Bruyneel

 Belgium
1992–1995, 1998

Laurent Jalabert

 France
1992–2000

Erik Breukink

 Netherlands
1993–1995

Laurent Dufaux

  Switzerland
1993–1994

David Etxebarria

 Spain
1994–2000, 2005–2006

Patrick Jonker

 Australia
1995–1996

Íñigo Cuesta

 Spain
1996–2000

Mikel Zarrabeitia

 Spain
1996–2003

Carlos Sastre

 Spain
1997–2001

José Ivan Gutierrez

 Spain
1999–2001

Peter Luttenberger

 Austria
1999–2000

Isidro Nozal

 Spain
1999–2006

Abraham Olano

 Spain
1999–2002

David Arroyo

 Spain
2001–2003

José Azevedo

 Portugal
2001–2003

Joseba Beloki

 Spain
2001–2003, 2005–2006

Igor González de Galdeano

 Spain
2001–2005

Jörg Jaksche

 Germany
2001–2003, 2005–2006

Iván Parra

 Colombia
2001–2002

Giampaolo Caruso

 Italy
2002–2006

Alberto Contador

 Spain
2002–2006

Allan Davis

 Australia
2003–2006

Koldo Gil

 Spain
2003–2005

Luis León Sánchez

 Spain
2003–2006

Carlos Barredo

 Spain
2004–2006

Roberto Heras

 Spain
2004–2005

José Joaquin Rojas

 Spain
2005–2006

Michele Scarponi

 Italy
2005–2006

Andrey Kashechkin

 Kazakhstan
2006

Alexander Vinokourov

 Kazakhstan
2006


References





  1. ^ "www.cyclingnews.com - the world centre of cycling"..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  2. ^ http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/9946.0.html


  3. ^ Macur, Juliet (2014). Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062277220.


  4. ^ "Wednesdays EuroFile: Astana 5' cleared by Spanish courts; Landis sets post-Tour schedule". 20 October 2006. Archived from the original on 20 October 2006.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)


  5. ^ "www.cyclingnews.com - the world centre of cycling".


  6. ^ "www.cyclingnews.com - the world centre of cycling".




External links


Media related to ONCE (cycling team) at Wikimedia Commons












Popular posts from this blog

Florida Star v. B. J. F.

Danny Elfman

Lugert, Oklahoma