Spain
27 January 1973
1.80m
69kg
1994
Artiach (1995), Kelme (1996-2000), USPS (2001-2004)
A devoted domestique who has come through for the team at the highest level, José Luis “Chechu” Rubiera again put forth his best effort in 2005 to help Lance Armstrong sew up his historic Tour de France win number seven.
Chechu showed his form in February as he had a top three stage finish and came in third overall at the Tour of the Algarve in Portugal. Just one month later he joined the teammate Tom Danielson with a top 10 finish at Semana Catalana in Spain and then won the King of the Mountains competition while again assisting Danielson to overall victory at the Tour de Georgia in America. But it was at the Tour de France where his quiet leadership and stalwart support as one of Lance´s “Spanish Armada” saw victories in the team time trial as well as his usual stellar work in the mountains. In addition to his Tour success, Chechu rounded out his season with a top 10 overall result at the Tour of Poland in September.
In 2004 Chechu tied his own career-best finish at the Tour de France, finishing 19th for the second straight year, three places higher than in 2002 and 19 positions higher than in 2001. The likeable Spanish climber closed out another great Tour with a terrific performance in the final time trial, finishing ninth, and had other top rides at Critérium International, the Ardennes Classics, the Tour de Languedoc-Rousillon and the Tour of Great Britain.
After beginning his season in Spain, Rubiera finished in the top 25 overall in the Critérium International. He worked for the team in the Languedoc-Roussillon, helping to win the final stage and placing three riders in the overall top 10. Rubiera climbed expertly in the mountains to protect Armstrong at the Tour of Catalunya, finishing with an impressive 10th in the Besançon time trial, one of five USPS riders in the top 11. He was nipped at the line in a six-rider sprint at the Châteauroux Classic de l'Indre before leading the team with an eighth-place finish at the Tour of Great Britain, keyed by two top five stage finishes.
In 2003, Rubiera had strong performances at Amstel Gold, the Dauphiné Libéré and the Tour, where he was recognised for his strategic breakaway move in the stage to Plateau de Bonascre and his effort on Luz Ardiden (finishing ninth) in support of Armstrong.
Rubiera's career highlights include three top finishes at the Tour of Spain (sixth in 1999, seventh in 2001, 11th in 2000) and three at the Tour of Italy (eighth in 2000, 10th in 1997 and 13th in 1998). He won his first professional race at the 1997 Giro d'Italia.
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17th, GC, Tour of the Basque Country
14th, Stage 3, Tour of the Basque Country
1st overall, Mountain
6th, GC, Semana Catalana
9th, Stage 5, Semana Catalana
8th, Stage 3, Semana Catalana
14th, GC, Paris-Nice
20th, Stage 5, Paris-Nice
3rd, GC, Tour of the Algarve
2nd, Stage 5, Tour of the Algarve
9th, Stage 4, Tour of the Algarve
2nd, Chateauroux Classic de l'Indre
4th, Stage 4, Tour of Great Britain
5th, Stage 2, Criterium International
8th overall, Tour of Great Britain
9th, Stage 19, Tour de France
19th overall, Tour de France
24th overall, Criterium International |
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