Andrea Tafi (cyclist)

Infobox Cyclist
ridername = Andrea Tafi

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image_caption = Tafi riding his last Paris-Roubaix in 2005
fullname = Andrea Tafi
nickname = "Il Gladiatore"
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1966|5|7
country = ITA
currentteam = Retired
discipline = Road
role = Rider
ridertype = Classics specialist
amateurteams =
amateuryears =
proyears = 1989
1990-1991
1992-1993
1994-2002
2003
2004
2005
proteams = Eurocar
Selle Italia
Carrera
Mapei
Team CSC
Alessio-Bianchi
Saunier Duval-Prodir
majorwins = Ronde van Vlaanderen (2002)
Paris-Tours (2000)
Paris-Roubaix (1999)
flagicon|ITA National Champion (1998)
Wincanton Classic (1997)
Giro di Lombardia (1996)
updated = January 1, 2007

Andrea Tafi (born 7 May, 1966 in Fucecchio) is an Italian former road bicycle racer who retired from his professional career in 2005. Tafi's propensity to perform best in the harder races earned him the nickname Il Gladiatore (The Gladiator).

He specialized in the cobbled Spring Classics such as Paris-Roubaix which he won in 1999, and Ronde van Vlaanderen which he won in 2002. He won the Giro di Lombardia in 1996 and the Italian National Championship in 1998.

He said that his dream was to emulate his cycling hero fellow Italian Francesco Moser, which is to win Paris-Roubaix wearing the Tricolore jersey as the Italian National Champion. He accomplished this in his win in 1999.

Biography

The best part of his career was spent with the Italian super-squad Mapei. In the 1996 edition of Paris-Roubaix the team managed to put 4 of their riders in a breakaway at the front of the race: Johan Museeuw, Gianluca Bortolami, previous year's winner Franco Ballerini, and Andrea Tafi. Ballerini had a flat and was out of the lead group, but the other three powered their way to the finish. When it was clear that they would be able to stay away, the team manager Patrick Lefevere of Belgium had to choose the finishing order of his riders. With tears in his eyes, he said, "I'm happy to have arrived with two champions like Museeuw and Bortolami. I dedicate this to my wife Gloria, who is about to have a baby. I thought of my wife and son all the time I was chasing. I gave the power to push on the front group on the cobbles and believed I worked more than them all. But perhaps victory is too much to ask for, because Museeuw is a champion who deserves it. I also would have liked second, but Bortolami didn't agree. The admiral ordered me to 3rd place entering the velodrome and there I stayed. Maybe another time the places will change, but I can't hide how unhappy I am." When he was about to win the 1999 edition of Paris-Roubaix, Lefevere said to him, "Now it's your turn!"'

In 1996 he won the "race of the falling leaves" Giro di Lombardia, using his strength to overcome the climbs of the race. He won Paris-Tours in a long breakaway effort in 2000, foiling the sprinters' teams. After a few lacklustre years, he again shone in the 2002 edition of the hilly, cobbled classic Ronde van Vlaanderen. Having established himself in a front breakaway with the likes of Johan Museeuw, Peter van Petegem and teammate Daniele Nardello, he made attacks after attacks, finally taking advantage of a moment's hesitation between the two home favorites Museeuw and van Petegem to solo to the finish for the win.

After Mapei

After the demise of the Mapei super-team, he moved to the reformed Team CSC under Bjarne Riis for the 2002-2003 seasons, but failed to shine again. He blamed this on the lack of opportunity to compete in races in order to stay competitive. His time with team Alessio also didn't re-ignite his performance. He finally moved to the new Saunier Duval-Prodir team for his last season in 2005.

Having retired from professional racing, Tafi is starting a business as a gastro-cyclosportif tour operator in his home area of Tuscany.

Significant wins

* Ronde van Vlaanderen, 2002
* Paris-Tours, 2000
* Paris-Roubaix, 1999
* Italian National Road Race Championship, 1998
* GP de Fourmies, Rochester Classic (discontinued), 1997
* Giro di Lombardia, 1996
* GP de Fourmies 1994

Teams

Persondata
NAME= Tafi, Andrea
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Road bicycle racer
DATE OF BIRTH=1966-05-07
PLACE OF BIRTH=Tuscany
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=