 | BELOKI FACTFILE DOB: 12/8/1973 Nationality: Spanish Best Tour: 2002 - second |
Joseba Beloki arrives on the startline as something of an unknown quantity for this year's race. In 2002 he finished second and in 2003 he looked set to push Lance Armstrong all the way only to suffer an absolutely horrific crash.
Since then, he has not quite been the same force on the bike in a two-year period in which he has suffered injuries and team and health problems.
He has switched to the talented Liberty-Seguros team for this season.
That sees him back under the wing of former Once boss Manolo Saiz and the joint team leader with Roberto Heras.
And should he, Saiz and Heras get their preparations right, Beloki could well be back in a position to rival the top of the overall classification.
Beloki had been set to ride in last year's race for Brioches La Boulangere but left the team by mutual agreement after a difficult relationship.
Before that his preparations for the season had been troubled by an Achilles tendon injury and allergy problems.
Following his Brioches La Boulangere departure, he moved to Saunier Duval but failed to shine there, dropping out of the Tour of Spain while in 81st place.
MMIX
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