Professional Career
In 1992, Olano started his professional career at CHCS. This team shortly after disbanded, and he moved to Lotus. With Lotus, Olano won his first professional race, the Gran Premio de Villafranca de Ordizia in Gipuzkoa.
In 1993, Olano switched to CLAS Cajastur, which was later merged with Mapei. Here, he started to win important races, such as the Vuelta a Asturias and the Spanish National Road Race Championships, both in road race and time trial.
In 1995, Olano won the World Cycling Championship in Colombia, ahead of his compatriot Miguel Indurain, and won three stages in the Vuelta a España. Olano was seen by many supporters as the successor to five-times Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain.
Olano established his abilities in stage races in 1996; he won the Tour de Romandie, finished third in the Giro d'Italia (leading the race at the second to last day), and finished ninth in the Tour de France. He also won the silver medal in the time trial at the 1996 Olympic Games.
Olano finished fourth in the 1997 Tour de France.
In 1998, he again became world champion, this time in the time trial, and won his only grand tour, the Vuelta a España.
In 1999, Olano switched to the Spanish ONCE team and remained there through the end of his career in 2001. His highest achievement in that period was 2nd place in the 2001 Giro d'Italia.
Read more about this topic: Abraham Olano
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