Team information | |
---|---|
UCI code | ONC |
Registered | Spain |
Founded | 1989 |
Disbanded | 2006 |
Discipline(s) | 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.
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Transcription
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. 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]
Major victories
- 1989
- Overall Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, Pello Ruiz Cabestany
- Stage 5b, Pello Ruiz Cabestany
- Stage 1 Vuelta al País Vasco, Johnny Weltz
- Denmark National Road Race Championships, Johnny Weltz
- Stage 10 Vuelta a España, Herminio Díaz Zabala
- Stage 5 Vuelta a Burgos, Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez
- 1990
- Stage 4, Eduardo Chozas
- Stage 6, Kenneth Weltz
- Stage 3b (TTT), Celestino Prieto, Pedro Luis Díaz Zabala & Eduardo Chozas
- Stages 1 & 20 Vuelta a España, Pello Ruiz Cabestany
- Stage 3 Giro d'Italia, Eduardo Chozas
- Stage 13 Tour de France, Eduardo Chozas
- Stage 14 Tour de France, Marino Lejarreta
- Stage 1b, Marino Lejarreta
- Stages 2 & 4, Marino Lejarreta
- Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama, Stephen Hodge
- 1991
- Stage 1, José Luis Villanueva
- Stages 3 & 6, Melchor Mauri
- Stage 4a, Eduardo Chozas
- Stages 1, 8 & 19, Melchor Mauri
- Stage 2b (TTT)
- Stage 3 Tour de Romandie, Stephen Hodge
- Stage 5 Giro d'Italia, Marino Lejarreta
- Stage 13 Giro d'Italia, Eduardo Chozas
- Biel-Bienne–Magglingen, Stephen Hodge
- 1992
- Stage 5b, Melchor Mauri
- Stage 4 Vuelta a Murcia, Melchor Mauri
- Stage 1 Critérium International, Stephen Hodge
- Stage 12 Vuelta a España, Johan Bruyneel
- Stages 2, 5a & 7 Volta a Catalunya, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 4 Volta a Catalunya, Alex Zülle
- Stage 6, Laurent Jalabert
- Biel-Bienne–Magglingen, Stephen Hodge
- Stage 1 Vuelta Ciclista a la Rioja, Melchor Mauri
- Stage 3 Vuelta Ciclista a la Rioja, Kenneth Weltz
- Decazeville Criterium, Philippe Louviot
- Coppa Placci, Johan Bruyneel
- Grand Prix des Nations, Johan Bruyneel
- Stage 1a, Alex Zülle
- Subida a Txitxarro, Marino Lejarreta
- 1993
- Stage 1 Vuelta a Andalucia, Juan Llaneras
- Trofeo Luis Puig, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 2 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, Erik Breukink
- Stage 6 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, Laurent Jalabert
- Stages 1 & 8b, Alex Zülle
- Stage 3 (TTT)
- Stage 8a, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 3, Erik Breukink
- Stages 1, 6 & 21 Vuelta a España, Alex Zülle
- Stages 3 & 7 Vuelta a España, Laurent Jalabert
- Clásica Internacional de Alcobendas y Villalba, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 5, Laurent Dufaux
- Stage 6 Tour de France, Johan Bruyneel
- Trofeo Comunidad Foral de Navarra, Johnny Weltz
- Geraardsbergen, Criterium, Johan Bruyneel
- Stages 3 & 4 Volta a Catalunya, Laurent Jalabert
- Aalsmeer Criterium, Erik Breukink
- Stage 1, Kiko García
- Stages 2 & 3, Laurent Jalabert
- 1994
- Stage 2 Vuelta a Murcia, Herminio Díaz Zabala
- Stages 2, 3, 5, 12, 13, 16 & 20, Laurent Jalabert
- Classique des Alpes, Oliviero Rincón
- Stage 5 GP du Midi-Libre, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 3 Vuelta a los Valles Mineros, Santos Hernández
- Stage 1 Volta a Catalunya, Alex Zülle
- Stage 5 Volta a Catalunya, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 3 Vuelta Ciclista a la Rioja, Johan Bruyneel
- Paris–Tours U23, Nicolas Jalabert
- 1995
- Stages 1, 3 & 4, Neil Stephens
- Australia National Road Race Championships, Neil Stephens
- Stages 1, 4, 5 & 6, Neil Stephens
- Stage 2, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 2a, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 2b, Alex Zülle
- Stage 2, Laurent Jalabert
- Milan–San Remo, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 5b Setmana Catalana de Ciclismo, Alex Zülle
- Stages 1 & 2, Laurent Jalabert
- Stages 3 & 5b, Alex Zülle
- Klasika Primavera, Laurent Jalabert
- La Flèche Wallonne, Laurent Jalabert
- Calais Criterium, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 3 GP du Midi-Libre, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 14 Giro d'Italia, Oliviero Rincón
- Stage 5 GP du Midi-Libre, Johan Bruyneel
- Stage 4 part b Euskal Bizikleta, Alex Zülle
- Stages 1 & 6 Tour de Suisse, Alex Zülle
- Stages 1 & 7, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 6, Melchor Mauri
- Spain National Time Trial Championships, Melchor Mauri
- Stage 7, Johan Bruyneel
- Stage 9, Alex Zülle
- Stage 12, Laurent Jalabert
- Aalst Criterium, Johan Bruyneel
- Profronde Stiphout, Erik Breukink
- Villafranca de Ordizia, Neil Stephens
- Ronde des Korrigans, Laurent Jalabert
- Bol d'or des Monédières, Laurent Jalabert
- Château-Chinon Criterium, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 3 Volta a Galicia, Laurent Jalabert
- Circuit de l'Aulne, Laurent Jalabert
- Netherlands National Time Trial Championships, Erik Breukink
- Stages 3, 5, 8, 15 & 17, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 16, Alex Zülle
- Toulouse criterium, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 1a, Juan Llaneras
- Overall UCI Road Ranking, Laurent Jalabert
- 1996
- Stage 4 Bay Cycling Classic, Patrick Jonker
- Classic Haribo, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 1, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 5b Melchor Mauri
- Stage 5, Melchor Mauri
- Stages 3 & 4
- Stages 3 & 5b
- Trofeo Comunidad Foral de Navarra, Alex Zülle
- Stage 1 Vuelta al País Vasco, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 5a Vuelta al País Vasco, Neil Stephens
- Stage 2, Aitor Garmendia
- Stage 4b, Melchor Mauri
- Stage 3 Vuelta a Asturias, David Etxebarria
- Stages 2 & 5, Laurent Jalabert
- Classique des Alpes, Laurent Jalabert
- Prologue, Stages 3 & 6, Alex Zülle
- Stage 4, Patrick Jonker
- Prologue Tour de France, Alex Zülle
- GP Llodio, David Etxebarria
- Stages 3 & 13, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 15, Alex Zülle
- Stage 17, Oliviero Rincón
- UCI Road World Championships, Time Trial, Alex Zülle
- UCI Road Ranking, Laurent Jalabert
- 1997
- Trofeo Soller, Laurent Jalabert
- Stages 1 & 6, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 2, Marcelino García
- Stage 3, Aitor Garmendia
- Trofeo Comunidad Foral de Navarra, Mikel Zarrabeitia
- Stages 2 & 4, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 5b, Alex Zülle
- Stage 4, Melchor Mauri
- Klasika Primavera, Mikel Zarrabeitia
- La Flèche Wallonne, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 3, Mikel Zarrabeitia
- Stage 4b, Aitor Garmendia
- Stage 5, Aitor Garmendia
- Stage 3 Vuelta a los Valles Mineros, David Etxebarria
- Stage 6 Tour de Suisse, David Etxebarria
- Callac Criterium, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 1 Vuelta Castilla y Leon, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 3b, Aitor Garmendia
- Stage 2, Laurent Jalabert
- Stages 6 & 20, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 9, Melchor Mauri
- Stage 21, Alex Zülle
- 1997 UCI Road World Championships, Time Trial, Laurent Jalabert
- Milano–Torino, Laurent Jalabert
- Giro di Lombardia, Laurent Jalabert
- Stages 1a & 1b, Laurent Jalabert
- UCI Road Ranking, Laurent Jalabert
- 1998
- Stage 3, Marcelino García
- Tour du Haut-Var, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 2 Paris–Nice, David Etxebarria
- Stage 1 Vuelta al País Vasco , Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 4, Melchor Mauri
- Stage 5b, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 5, Melchor Mauri
- Stages 1 & 6, Laurent Jalabert
- GP du Midi-Libre, Melchor Mauri
- Stages 3 & 4a Euskal Bizikleta, Laurent Jalabert
- Classique des Alpes, Laurent Jalabert
- Prologue, Stages 3 & 8, Tour de Suisse, Laurent Jalabert
- France National Road Championships, Road Race, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 3 Volta a Galicia, Rafael Díaz Justo
- Subida a Txitxarro, Alberto Leanizbarrutia
- L'Hospitalet de Llobregat Criterium, Melchor Mauri
- 1999
- Stage 5b, Laurent Jalabert
- Stages 1 & 5b, Laurent Jalabert
- Prologue, Stages 2 & 3b, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 2b Vuelta a Asturias, Abraham Olano
- Stage 4b, Abraham Olano
- Stages 4 & 9 , Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 16, Laurent Jalabert
- Prologue Tour de Suisse, Laurent Jalabert
- Spain National Road Championships, Time Trial, Santos González
- Stages 12 & 16 Tour de France, David Etxebarria
- Clasica a los Puertos, Miguel Ángel Martín
- Trofeo Luis Ocana, José Luis Rebollo
- Stage 5, Marcos Serrano
- Stage 1, Abraham Olano
- Stage 2, Miguel Ángel Martín
- Stage 6 Vuelta a España, Abraham Olano
- UCI Road Ranking, Laurent Jalabert
- 2000
- Stage 5, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 3, Miguel Ángel Peña
- Stage 5b, Abraham Olano
- Stages 4 & 5, David Cañada
- Stage 3, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 5, Abraham Olano
- Stage 4 Vuelta al País Vasco, Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 4, David Cañada
- Stage 2 Euskal Bizikleta, David Etxebarria
- Stage 6 Critérium du Dauphiné, Iñigo Cuesta
- Stage 7 Critérium du Dauphiné Laurent Jalabert
- Stage 1 (TTT) Volta a Catalunya, Santos González
- Spain National Road Championships, Time Trial, José Iván Gutiérrez
- Stage 1 Vuelta Castilla y Leon, Santos González
- Stage 3 Volta a Galicia, David Etxebarria
- Stage 9, Abraham Olano
- Stage 21, Santos González
- 2001
- Stage 3 Volta ao Algarve, José Azevedo
- Stage 4, Igor González De Galdeano
- Stage 2a (TTT) GP Internacional MR Cortez-Mitsubishi
- Stage 3, Jan Hruška
- Stage 3 Vuelta a Asturias, Igor González De Galdeano
- Stage 1 Euskal Bizikleta, Mikel Zarrabeitia
- Portugal National Road Championships, Time Trial, José Azevedo
- Stage 1 (TTT)
- Stage 8, Joseba Beloki
- Spain National Road Championships, Time Trial, Santos González
- Spain National Road Championships, Road Race, José Iván Gutiérrez
- Stage 3 Vuelta a Burgos, Carlos Sastre
- Stage 9 Vuelta a España, Igor González De Galdeano
- Stage 1a, Joaquim Rodríguez
- 2002
- Stage 5 Volta ao Algarve, Jan Hruška
- Stage 5 Vuelta a Murcia, René Andrle
- Stage 3 Clásica Internacional de Alcobendas y Villalba, Isidro Nozal
- Stage 3 GP du Midi-Libre, Igor González De Galdeano
- Stage 4b Euskal Bizikleta, Mikel Zarrabeitia
- Stage 5, Joseba Beloki
- Spain National Road Championships, Time Trial, Igor González De Galdeano
- Stage 4 Tour de France, Abraham Olano
- Villafranca de Ordizia, Mikel Zarrabeitia
- Stage 3 (TTT) Vuelta a Burgos, David Arroyo
- Stage 1 (TTT) Vuelta a España, Jörg Jaksche
- Stage 8 Tour de l'Avenir, Xavier Florencio
- Stage 1a, Joseba Beloki
- 2003
- Stage 5 Tour Down Under, Giampaolo Caruso
- Trofeo Manacor, Allan Davis
- Stage 6 Paris–Nice, Joaquim Rodríguez
- Stage 2 Vuelta al País Vasco, Ángel Vicioso
- Stage 4 Circuit Cycliste Sarthe, Allan Davis
- Stage 3 Vuelta Ciclista a la Rioja, Jan Hruška
- Stage 3, Joseba Beloki
- Stage 5 Deutschland Tour, José Azevedo
- Stage 5 Euskal Bizikleta, Joseba Beloki
- Stage 7 Volta a Catalunya, Ángel Vicioso
- Stage 1 Vuelta a España, Igor González De Galdeano
- Stage 6 Vuelta a España, Isidro Nozal
- Stage 8 Tour de Pologne, Alberto Contador
- Stage 8 Vuelta a España, Joaquim Rodríguez
- Stage 13 Vuelta a España, Isidro Nozal
- Noosa Criterium, Allan Davis
- 2004
- Trofeo Palma de Mallorca, Allan Davis
- Trofeo Alcudia, Allan Davis
- Terezin Criterium, René Andrle
- Stage 3 Clásica Internacional de Alcobendas y Villalba, Luis León Sánchez
- Stage 1 Vuelta a Asturias, Luis León Sánchez
- Stage 3 Vuelta a Asturias, Carlos Barredo
- Stage 5 Deutschland Tour, Allan Davis
- Stages 3 & 4b, Ángel Vicioso
- Stage 3, Allan Davis
- Stage 12, Roberto Heras
- Milano–Torino, Marcos Serrano
- Giro del Piemonte, Allan Davis
- South Bank GP, Allan Davis
- 2005
- Australia National Road Championships, Criterium, Allan Davis
- Stage 3, Luis León Sánchez
- Stage 5, Alberto Contador
- Stages 3 & 5, Allan Davis
- Stage 3, Alberto Contador
- Stage 5b Vuelta al País Vasco, Alberto Contador
- Klasika Primavera, David Etxebarria
- Stage 5 Vuelta a Aragón, Allan Davis
- Stage 4 Tour de Romandie, Alberto Contador
- Stage 3 Clásica Internacional de Alcobendas y Villalba, Luis León Sánchez
- Stage 7 Giro d'Italia, Koldo Gil
- Stages 1 & 4a Euskal Bizikleta, Ángel Vicioso
- Stage 18 Tour de France, Marcos Serrano
- Stage 3, Allan Davis
- Stages 6 & 15 Vuelta a España, Roberto Heras
- Stage 4 Tour de l'Avenir, Koen De Kort
- G.P. Jatorena, Roberto Heras
- 2006
- Stages 2 & 5 Tour Down Under, Allan Davis
- Stage 3 Tour Down Under, Carlos Barredo
- Stage 6 Paris–Nice , Andrey Kashechkin
- Stage 5, Alexandre Vinokourov
- Stage 3 Tour de Romandie, Alberto Contador
- Stage 4 Tour de Suisse, Ángel Vicioso
- Kazakhstan National Road Championships, Road Race, Andrey Kashechkin
- Stage 8 Tour de Suisse, Alberto Contador
- Stage 1 Deutschland Tour, Assan Bazayev
- Stage 1 Vuelta a Burgos, Aaron Kemps
- Stages 8, 9 & 20, Alexandre Vinokourov
- Stage 10, Sérgio Paulinho
- Stage 18, Andrey Kashechkin
- Noosa Criterium, Allan Davis
Notable riders
Name | Nationality | Years |
---|---|---|
Eduardo Chozas | Spain | 1989–1991 |
Anselmo Fuerte | Spain | 1990–1992 |
Marino Lejarreta | Spain | 1990–1992 |
Melcior 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 Iván Gutiérrez | 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 Joaquín Rojas | Spain | 2005–2006 |
Michele Scarponi | Italy | 2005–2006 |
Andrey Kashechkin | Kazakhstan | 2006 |
Alexander Vinokourov | Kazakhstan | 2006 |
References
- ^ "www.cyclingnews.com – the world centre of cycling".
- ^ "Kazakh consortium underwrites Saiz's team". Archived from the original on 2006-10-20. Retrieved 2006-12-20.
- ^ Macur, Juliet (2014). Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062277220.
- ^ "Wednesdays EuroFile: Astana 5' cleared by Spanish courts; Landis sets post-Tour schedule". 20 October 2006. Archived from the original on 20 October 2006.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "www.cyclingnews.com – the world centre of cycling".
- ^ "www.cyclingnews.com – the world centre of cycling".