Luca Paolini

Luca Paolini (born January 17, 1977 in Milan) is an Italian road bicycle racer who has been professionally riding since 2000. He started his sports career in the early 2000s by joining Mapei-Quick Step (2000-2002), UCI ProTeam directed by Patrick Lefevere. Within Mapei-Quick Step and then its successor team Quickstep (2003-2005), Luca Paolini achieved a number of great victories. Among them were, in particular, the first places at Gran Premio di Lugano, Giro del Piemonte, Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli and Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli. Being a gregory of the famous Paolo Bettini, he also took stages at Tour of Britain and Tour de Wallonie.

Seasons 2006-2007 and 2008-2010 Luca Paolini spent in two Italian cycling team - Liquigas and Aqua & Sapone respectively. As their member, he triumphed at certain stages of Vuelta a España and Three Days of De Panne, won one-day races Gran Premio Città di Camaiore, Trofeo Laigueglia, Coppa Placci as well as Coppa Bernocchi. Meanwhile, his bright victories attracted a particular attention from anti-doping bodies. As his name appeared in taped phone conversations together with Ivan Basso and his sister Elisa, he was suspected in illegal drugs usage. In September 2006 Paolini's home was searched in a doping investigation which was called Operazione Athena – however it appears that no evidence was found that led to any conviction of Paolini's fault, so Team Liquigas refused to suspend him. In 2011 he was signed by Russian Team Katusha to be a gregory of Filippo Pozzato both at classics and Grand Tours. However, due to Pozzato's poor performance and traumas in season 2011, he switched to other co-riders and pursued his personal goals in the peloton. In autumn 2011 he finished third at Giro del Piemonte having taken his first podium for Team Katusha.