Gilberto Simoni
Gilberto Simoni in 2007
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Gilberto Simoni |
| Nickname | Gibo |
| Born |
25 August 1971 Palù di Giovo, Italy |
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Weight | 62 kg (137 lb; 9.8 st) |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Retired |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type | Climbing specialist |
| Professional team(s) | |
| 1994 | Jolly Componibili–Cage 1994 |
| 1995–1996 | Aki–Gipiemme |
| 1997 | MG Maglificio–Technogym |
| 1998 | Cantina Tollo–Alexia Alluminio |
| 1999 | Ballan–Alessio |
| 2000–2001 | Lampre–Daikin |
| 2002–2004 | Saeco Macchine per Caffè–Longoni Sport |
| 2005 | Lampre–Caffita |
| 2006–2007 | Saunier Duval–Prodir |
| 2008–2009 | Diquigiovanni–Androni |
| 2010 | Lampre–Farnese Vini |
| Major wins | |
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Gilberto Simoni (born 25 August 1971 in Palù di Giovo, Trentino) is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer, most recently for UAE Team Emirates. Simoni is twice winner of the Giro d'Italia cycling race (2001 and 2003 editions). Simoni might have won a third Giro, but in 2002 he tested positive for cocaine and was withdrawn from the race by his Saeco team – he was later cleared of any doping violation by the Italian Cycling Federation. Simoni is a native of Palu di Giovo, and was considered a climbing specialist. His final race as a professional road cyclist was the 2010 Giro d'Italia, which he finished in 69th place overall, 2:40:14 behind another two-time winner Ivan Basso.
Simoni was born in Palù di Giovo, in Trentino, and began competing as an amateur with the goal of someday winning the Giro d'Italia. Simoni confirmed his potential in 1993, when he won both the amateur version of the Giro d'Italia (known as the Baby Giro) and the Italian Road Cycling Championship. Prior to his retirement in 2010, Simoni would reveal to the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that the Giro was the one race that attracted him to cycling and which motivated him as a professional. "It was the Giro that brought me to cycling when I was a child," he said. "It triggered my dreams."
Simoni turned professional in 1994 with the Jolly Componibili–Cage 1994 team, but suffered through an inauspicious rookie season, having to cope with the deaths of both his father and older brother. It was only three years later in 1997 that Simoni won his first professional race, a stage of the Giro del Trentino, while riding for the MG Maglificio–Technogym team of sports director Giancarlo Ferretti.
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