Aitor González Jiménez (born 27 February 1975) is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer, who rode professionally between 1998 and 2005, and was the winner of the 2002 Vuelta a España.

Aitor González
Personal information
Full nameAitor González Jiménez
NicknameTerminaitor
Born (1975-02-27) 27 February 1975 (age 49)
Zumárraga, Spain
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeClimber
Professional teams
1998Avianca–Telecom
1999–2002Kelme–Costa Blanca
2003–2004Fassa Bortolo
2005Euskaltel–Euskadi
Major wins
Grand Tours
Tour de France
1 individual stage (2004)
Giro d'Italia
3 individual stages (2002, 2003)
Vuelta a España
General classification (2002)
3 individual stages (2002)

Stage races

Tour de Suisse (2005)

Career

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Born in Zumárraga, Gipuzkoa, González turned professional in 1998 with Avianca–Telecom. He won the 2002 Vuelta a España with Kelme–Costa Blanca after attacking his teammate leading the race; he also won three stages during the race. Following his Vuelta victory, he transferred to Fassa Bortolo, after a long controversy surrounding a previous contract signed with Acqua & Sapone–Cantina Tollo.[1][2] He also won two stages at the 2002 Giro d'Italia, one at the 2003 Giro d'Italia and one at the 2004 Tour de France. He won the 2005 Tour de Suisse, before he retired in January 2006 after being tested positive for methyltestosterone metabolite twice during the 2005 season.[3] He was also linked with the Operación Puerto doping case.[4]

Post-cycling

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After retirement, González had several run-ins with the law. In 2007, he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and cocaine. In 2008, a second arrest followed when he allegedly hired people to beat up a person who owed him money.[4] In 2011, González was again arrested for taking part in a bank fraud.[5] Lastly, in 2016, he was taken into custody a fourth time, for allegedly taking part in a robbery.[4]

Career achievements

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Major results

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2000
1st Stage 2 Volta ao Algarve
2nd Gran Premio de Llodio
5th Overall Tour du Limousin
1st   Young rider classification
1st Stage 3
5th Subida a Urkiola
6th Overall Tour de Pologne
2001
1st   Overall Vuelta a Murcia
1st   Points classification
1st Stage 5 (ITT)
4th Overall Volta a Catalunya
4th Gran Premio de Llodio
9th Overall Critérium International
9th Overall Volta ao Algarve
2002
1st   Overall Vuelta a España
1st Stages 8, 10 (ITT) & 21 (ITT)
6th Overall Giro d'Italia
1st Stages 8 & 19 (ITT)
6th Overall Critérium International
7th Time trial, UCI Road World Championships
8th Overall Tour de Romandie
2003
1st Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria
1st Stage 15 (ITT) Giro d'Italia
2004
1st Stage 14 Tour de France
6th Time trial, National Road Championships
2005
1st   Overall Tour de Suisse
1st Stage 9
5th Overall Euskal Bizikleta

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

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Grand Tour 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
  Giro d'Italia 6 19 DNF
  Tour de France DNF DNF 45
  Vuelta a España 1 DNF DNF DNF
Legend
Did not compete
DNF Did not finish

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Henry, Chris (3 November 2002). "UCI wades into Gonzalez contract debate". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  2. ^ Henry, Chris (20 November 2002). "UCI approves Gonzalez transfer to Fassa Bortolo". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  3. ^ Stokes, Shane (23 December 2006). "González gets two year ban". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Aitor Gonzalez arrested for robbery in Spain". cyclingnews.com. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  5. ^ Cossins, Peter (19 August 2011). "Vuelta winner González arrested on fraud charges". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
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