Luca Paolini
Luca Paolini (born 17 January 1977) is an Italian racing cyclist.
Career
Paolini was 2000 professional with Mapei - Quick Step and drove until 2005 the team of Patrick Lefevere, the later Quickstep. Although he was a precious helper of Paolo Bettini at that time, he scored himself some notable results. Among other things, he won the Giro del Piemonte and half classic Brabantse Pijl. In 2004 he was in the road bike World Cup in Verona third in the sprint of a leading group behind Oscar Freire and Erik Zabel. The HEW cyclassics Paolini in 2005 behind his teammate Filippo Pozzato second. After joining Liquigas in 2006 he finished third at Milan - Sanremo. In 2007 he won a stage of the Three Days of De Panne. In 2008 he celebrated, now riding for the team Acqua & Sapone, success in the Italian one-day race Trofeo Laigueglia and Coppa Placci. In 2009 he was successful in Italy, he won a stage Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda, as well as the Coppa Bernocchi for themselves. Since 2011, he runs for the Russian team Katusha. 2013 he could after winning the Belgian classics Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and a fifth place at Milan - Sanremo win its first participation in a Giro d' Italia, the third stage as a soloist and conquer the pink jersey.
Achievements
2000
- A stage Argentina Tour
- A stage in the Tour de l' Avenir
2001
- Grand Prix of Lugano
2002
- Giro del Piemonte
2003
- Grand Prix Beghelli
2004
- Brabant Arrow
2006
- Gran Premio Città di Camaiore
- A stage in the Vuelta a España
2007
- A stage of Three Days of De Panne
2008
- Trofeo Laigueglia
- Coppa Placci
- A stage Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda
- Coppa Bernocchi
- Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
- A stage of the Giro d' Italia
Placement in the Grand Tours
Team
- 2000-2002 Mapei - Quick Step
- 2003-2005 Quickstep
- 2006-2007 Liquigas
- 2008-2010 Acqua & Sapone
- 2011-2013 Katjuscha Team