 |
Francesco CasagrandeItalian road cyclist
Date of Birth: 14.09.1970
Country:  Italy |
Content:
- Ivan Gotti: Italian Road Racing Champion
- Triumphs and Setbacks
- Redemption and Return
- Grand Tour Success and Recognition
- Later Career and Controversy
- Legacy and Retirement
Ivan Gotti: Italian Road Racing Champion
Early Life and CareerIvan Gotti, an iconic Italian professional road cyclist, began his illustrious career in 1992. Within a few years, he had achieved notable triumphs. In 1996, he emerged victorious in prestigious races such as Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour of the Basque Country.
Triumphs and Setbacks
Two years later, in 1998, Gotti claimed victory at the Clásica de San Sebastián. However, his career faced an abrupt halt that same year when a doping test conducted during the Tour de Romandie revealed the presence of testosterone. He was subsequently dismissed by his team, Cofidis, and sanctioned with a nine-month suspension by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
Redemption and Return
Upon the conclusion of his suspension in 1999, Gotti made a triumphant return to cycling. That year, he secured a commendable fourth place at the World Championships in the road race, won the Tour de Suisse, and once again prevailed at the Clásica de San Sebastián.
Grand Tour Success and Recognition
In 2000, Gotti showcased his prowess at the Giro d'Italia, leading from stage 9 to 19. Despite his valiant efforts, he ultimately settled for second place in the general classification, behind Stefano Garzelli. Nevertheless, he claimed the victory in the mountains classification. That same year, he added the Flèche Wallonne to his list of achievements and concluded the season ranked first in the UCI Individual Ranking.
Later Career and Controversy
Gotti's subsequent career remained impressive: he won the Giro del Trentino in both 2000 and 2001 and triumphed in the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali in 2002. However, his participation in the 2002 Giro d'Italia was marred by a controversial incident that resulted in his disqualification. During a sprint for a mountain prize, he was found to have pushed Colombian rider John Freddy García to the ground, violating the race regulations.
Legacy and Retirement
Despite this setback, Gotti rebounded in 2003 by winning three stages of the Tour de Suisse. However, he relinquished his lead to Alexandre Vinokourov on the penultimate stage and was forced to withdraw from the race due to health issues. In 2005, Ivan Gotti retired from his professional cycling career, leaving behind an impressive legacy as one of Italy's most accomplished road racers.
