Portugal
19 September 1973
1.75m
64kg
1994
Maia (1996-2000), ONCE-Eroski (2001-2003), US Postal-Berry Floor (2004)
In 2005 José Azevedo once again fulfilled his role as part of the team´s highly-valued “Spanish Armada” that includes fellow climbers José Luis Rubiera, Benjamin Noval, and Manuel Beltran. All these men were instrumental in the team´s clearly stated historical goal of winning a seventh consecutive Tour de France for team leader Lance Armstrong, and the “Ace” was a key part of that victory. Before making history with Armstrong, Azevedo saw early season racing action at Paris-Nice and Semana Catalana, and then joined the team in the USA as they guided Tom Danielson to overall victory at the Tour de Georgia. Following the Tour de France in July, Azevedo was a legitimate contender for the Vuelta a España podium. But, along with teammates Benoit Joachim and Manuel Beltran, he was caught up in a large crash during Stage 12 that forced all three riders to leave the race. As the team looks ahead to life without Lance in 2006, José Azevedo will certainly be one of the new leaders.
José Azevedo joined the team in 2004, and came through in spades all season long. At the Tour de France, he buried himself on the climbs in defence of team leader Armstrong. At the same time, he maintained enough strength to finish a career-best fifth overall. Quiet and understated, Azevedo lets his riding do his talking.
After debuting in his home country of Portugal in the Tour of the Algarve, Azevedo finished 10th in Paris-Nice, took part in the Critérium International, the Tour of the Basque Country and the Ardennes Classics before finishing ninth at the Languedoc-Roussillon and 12th at the Dauphiné Libéré. He forced the pace in the Pyrenees to effectively make the Tour de France a two-man race between Armstrong and Ivan Basso. Azevedo kept it going at all crucial points of the race, finishing eighth at Villard-de-Lans, fourth on L'Alpe d'Huez, 11th at Le Grand Bornand and finally an impressive 10th at the final time trial in Besançon.
Azevedo closed out his successful three-year run with ONCE in 2003 with a stage win and second overall at the Tour of Germany. In his first Tour de France in 2002, Azevedo placed an impressive sixth overall to help lead the Spanish team to victory in the team classification. Other career highlights include third overall at the Midi Libre, fifth overall at the Giro d'Italia and consecutive Portuguese national time trial championships in 1996 and 1997.
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10th, GC Tour de Georgia
12th, stage 5, Tour de Georgia
15th, stage 4, Tour de Georgia
12th, stage 3, Tour de Georgia
42nd, stage 1, Paris-Nice
30th overall, Tour de France
5th overall, Tour de France
10th overall, Paris-Nice
9th overall, Languedoc-Rousillon
12th overall, Dauphine Libere |
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