Italy
7 May 1973
1.8m
71.6kg
1996
Rosslotto (1996-1997), Saeco (1998-2001), Index-Alexia Aluminio (2002), Telekom (2003), T-Mobile (2004)
In a classic tale of redemption, Savoldelli, finally healthy and content within the framework of his team, put forth a stellar 2005 with his second career victory in the Tour of Italy and a stage win at the Tour de France. Heavily coveted by sports manager Johan Bruyneel and Lance Armstrong for many years, Savoldelli proved the duo right by regaining the firepower he possessed when he won the 2002 Giro and was runner-up in 1999. A rider of great class and experience, Savoldelli was an invaluable addition to the team in 2005 and 2006 should bring similar results.
2005 didn´t begin quite according to plan when Savoldelli suffered a broken collarbone at the team´s January training camp to put his early season on hold. Yet the 32-year old recovered in time to prepare for his beloved Giro, taking the start in Paris-Nice, and other events such as the Tour of the Basque Country and the Klasika Primavera (ninth) before the Tour de Romandie. At the Swiss stage race, an event he won in 2000, Savoldelli was back on form, taking second in the prologue and 10th in the closing time trial to enter the Giro as an outside contender. All that changed with a fourth in the Giro prologue and other signs of strength early on, including third in the first time trial, to remain in contention. Savoldelli then convincingly won the Giro´s first mountain stage to Zoldo Alto and took pink two days later on the brutal stage to Ortisei.
Savoldelli maintained his lead heading into the final mountain stage, one that included the treacherous Colle delle Finestre and the finishing climb to Sestrières. Isolated from his team in the final 40kms with the two climbs looming, Savoldelli masterfully controlled his emotions and his rivals, making up necessary time on the descent prior to Sestrières and then climbing at his own pace to limit his losses. In the end, Savoldelli won the Giro as much with his head as with his legs.
At the Tour de France, Savoldelli rode with great enthusiasm, contributing to the team´s victory in the team time trial and providing great support to Armstrong throughout. Savoldelli won his first career Tour stage in dramatic style, winning the longest stage of the race to Revel by masterfully out-schooling the remnants of a long breakaway before finally taking out Kurt-Asle Arvesen at the line. Savoldelli, riding alongside Yaroslav Popovych, closed out his season with a fourth place at the Luk Challenge time trial event.
Savoldelli battled through several seasons of injury and illness following his Giro win in 2002. In 2002, Savoldelli had two spectacular days in the mountains in stages 16 and 17, moving from eighth into the race lead. Other career highlights include two stage wins at the 2001 Tour de Romandie and the overall victory in 2000, leading the race for all but one day. In 1999, Savoldelli won the Trofeo Lagueglia, one stage and the overall title at the Tour of Trentino, his second victory in the Italian stage race, and was fourth at the Tour de Romandie and 10th at Flèche Wallone.
Prior to this year, Savoldelli finished 33rd in the Tour de France 1996 and 41st in 2000.
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1st, stage 17, Tour de France
27th, GC, Tour de Romandie
10th, stage 5, Tour de Romandie
10th, stage 1, Tour de Romandie
2nd, prologue, Tour de Romandie
9th overall, Klasika Primavera
24th, stage 1, Tour of the Basque Country
7th overall, Azzurri d´Italia Classification
9th overall, Most Combative, Giro d’Italia
6th overall, Intergiro
Classification, Giro d’Italia
9th overall, Mountains Classification, Giro d’Italia
4th overall, Points Classification, Giro d’Italia
1st, GC, Giro d’Italia
7th, stage 19, Giro d’Italia
4th, stage 18, Giro d’Italia
7th, stage 17, Giro d’Italia
10th, stage 14, Giro d’Italia
9th, stage 13, Giro d’Italia
30th, stage 12, Giro d’Italia
1st, stage 11, Giro d’Italia
3rd, stage 8, Giro d’Italia
9th, stage 7, Giro d’Italia
8th, stage 5, Giro d’Italia
10th, stage 3, Giro d’Italia
4th, prologue, Giro d’Italia
27th, GC, Tour de Romandie
10th, stage 5, Tour de Romandie
10th, stage 1, Tour de Romandie
2nd, prologue, Tour de Romandie
38th, prologue, Paris-Nice
6th overall, Tour of Great Britain
7th overall, Regio Tour |
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