Iban Mayo

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**Iban Mayo**
Personal information

Full name	Iban Mayo Diez
Date of birth	August 19, 1977
Country	Basque Country, Spain
Team information
Current team	Euskaltel-Euskadi
Professional team(s)
2000-2006	Euskaltel-Euskadi
Major wins
1 stage Tour de France 1x Dauphiné Libéré 1x Tour of the Basque Country 1x Vuelta a Burgos

Iban Mayo Diez (born August 19, 1977, in Igorre, Basque Country, Spain) is a professional road bicycle racer.

Renowned as a climber, Mayo turned pro with the Euskaltel-Euskadi team in 2000, and has become one of the Basque Country's top prospects for future cycling glory. He has stayed with Euskaltel-Euskadi throughout his career, further increasing his support among the Basque fans. The biggest result of Mayo's career thus far came in the 2003 Tour de France, when he won a resounding stage victory up the famous Alpe d'Huez. He eventually finished the Tour in sixth place overall.

In 2004 he impressed everyone with a victory in the Dauphiné Libéré, which is generally regarded as a preparation course for the Tour de France. In one of the stages he managed to beat Lance Armstrong by 2 minutes in a time trial on the Mont Ventoux, also breaking the previous record for the legendary climb. Therefore he was seen as a dangerous outsider for the Tour de France in the same year. It turned out to be a disappointment. After losing a lot of time in the north on the cobblestones due to a crash, he lost even more in the Pyrenees due to his sustained injuries, and reportedly mononucleosis infection. He quit the race before the start of the 15th stage. Many observers felt that Mayo had taken on too much and had reached his top form too early in the season.

In 2006 he returned to the top of the sport in the Dauphine Libere with a 2nd placing in Briancon and a win on the Queen stage to La Toussuire. He was seen as a possible contender for the title in the 2006 Tour de France, but retired from the race during the 11th stage.

In 2007 Mayo will ride for Saunier Duval-Prodir.

[edit] Major Results

2006

1st, Overall, Vuelta a Burgos (and Stage 4 win)
1st, Stage 6, Dauphiné Libéré (Briançon - La Toussuire)
1st, Subida a Urkiola

2004

1st, Dauphiné Libéré
- Prologue, Megeve ITT
- Stage 4, Bedoin - Mont Ventoux ITT
2nd, Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
2nd, Classique des Alpes
1st, Vuelta Asturias
1st, Subida al Naranco
1st, Clasica Alcobendas
- 1st, Stage 1, Alcobendas - Puerto de Navacerrada
- 1st, Stage 2, Collado Villalba - Collaldo Villalba