Isidro Nozal
Encyclopedia
Isidro Nozal Vega is a Spanish
professional road racing
cyclist. He has become somewhat famous for not showering during Grand Tour
s for fear that the water will soften his muscles. Runner-up in the 2003 Vuelta a España
and instrumental domestique in Roberto Heras
2004 Vuelta a España
win.
In 2005, he was suspended for two weeks after being tested with a hematocrit
level above 50 before the start of Dauphine Libere. In 2006, he was initially implicated in the Operación Puerto doping case
, but was later cleared of any wrongdoing by Spanish officials.
For the 2008 and 2009 seasons Nozal rode for the Portuguese Pro Continental team of Liberty Seguros
. In September 2009 Nozal and two teammates (Nuno Ribiero and Hector Guerra) were announced to have tested positive for EPO-CERA in samples taken for the previous month's Tour of Portugal. Liberty Seguros immediately announced that it would cease sponsorship of the team and its participation in cycling. Ribiero had initially been declared the winner but the second-placed rider, Spain's David Blanco, was elevated to the overall win. Nozal, Ribiero, and Guerra all received two-year suspensions from cycling.
First year as a professional
2000 – ONCE - Deutsche Bank
2001 – ONCE - Eroski
2002 – ONCE - Eroski
2003 – ONCE - Eroski
2004 – Liberty Seguros
2005 – Liberty Seguros-Würth Cycling Team
2006 – Astana-Würth Team
2007 – Karpin-Galicia
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
professional road racing
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
cyclist. He has become somewhat famous for not showering during Grand Tour
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
s for fear that the water will soften his muscles. Runner-up in the 2003 Vuelta a España
2003 Vuelta a España
The 58th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from September 6 to September 28, 2003...
and instrumental domestique in Roberto Heras
Roberto Heras
Roberto Heras Hernández is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer who won the Vuelta a España a record-tying three times. He broke the record with a fourth win in 2005, but was disqualified for taking EPO. In June 2011, Heras successfully appealed the disqualification in the civil court...
2004 Vuelta a España
2004 Vuelta a España
The 59th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from September 4 to September 26, 2004...
win.
In 2005, he was suspended for two weeks after being tested with a hematocrit
Hematocrit
The hematocrit or packed cell volume or erythrocyte volume fraction is the percentage of the concentration of red blood cells in blood. It is normally about 45% for men and 40% for women...
level above 50 before the start of Dauphine Libere. In 2006, he was initially implicated in the Operación Puerto doping case
Operación Puerto doping case
Operación Puerto is the code name of a Spanish Police operation against the doping network of Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, started in May 2006, which resulted in a scandal that involved several of the world most famous cyclists at the time.Media attention has focused on the small number of...
, but was later cleared of any wrongdoing by Spanish officials.
For the 2008 and 2009 seasons Nozal rode for the Portuguese Pro Continental team of Liberty Seguros
Liberty Seguros
Liberty Seguros is an international subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Group, a Boston-based insurance company.-Cycling teams:Liberty Seguros sponsored the UCI ProTour cycling team, Liberty Seguros – Würth, but dropped the sponsorship on 25 May 2006 due to the Operación Puerto doping case, involving the...
. In September 2009 Nozal and two teammates (Nuno Ribiero and Hector Guerra) were announced to have tested positive for EPO-CERA in samples taken for the previous month's Tour of Portugal. Liberty Seguros immediately announced that it would cease sponsorship of the team and its participation in cycling. Ribiero had initially been declared the winner but the second-placed rider, Spain's David Blanco, was elevated to the overall win. Nozal, Ribiero, and Guerra all received two-year suspensions from cycling.
Major achievements and teams
1999 – ONCE - Deutsche BankFirst year as a professional
2000 – ONCE - Deutsche Bank
2001 – ONCE - Eroski
- 3rd, Stage 10 – Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
2002 – ONCE - Eroski
- Stage 3 – Clasica de Alcobendas
- Stage 3 – Vuelta a BurgosVuelta a BurgosVuelta Ciclista a Burgos is an elite men's professional road bicycle racing event held annually in the Burgos province of Spain. Since 2005, Vuelta a Burgos has been a multi-day stage race as part of the UCI Europe Tour.-Palmarés:...
2003 – ONCE - Eroski
- Stages 6 and 13 and 2nd overall – Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
2004 – Liberty Seguros
2005 – Liberty Seguros-Würth Cycling Team
2006 – Astana-Würth Team
2007 – Karpin-Galicia
Karpin-Galicia
Xacobeo Galicia was a professional continental cycling team from Spain. It competed in the UCI Europe Tour and, when selected as a wildcard, in UCI ProTour events. The creation of the team was announced on July 11, 2006 as Fundación Ciclismo Galego following the withdrawal of four of the nine...