 | AZEVEDO FACTFILE DOB: 19/9/1973 Nationality: Portuguese Best Tour: 2004 - fifth overall |
Known as "The Ace", Azevedo is Lance Armstrong's Tour de France trump card and will be one of the major factors in whether the Texan makes it seven wins. The 31-year-old Portuguese rider finished fifth overall last year but continually sacrificed himself for his team boss' gain.
So harsh was his driving style in the Pyrenees, he caused all but Armstrong and Ivan Basso to crumble.
Prior to joining up with Armstrong, he rode with the now-defunct Once team.
Azevedo was snapped up before the 2004 season by what was then the US Postal team as Armstrong's anchorman and has duly done his service.
Prior to that, though, his best Tour finish had been sixth in 2002, and he also has a previous fifth place in the Giro d'Italia.
MMIX
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