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Last look back: Top riders who retired in 2005

Published: Dec. 23, 2005
Photo: AFP (file photo)

When the European professional peloton rolls out in 2006, a few dozenfamiliar names will be missing. Here’s a rundown on the 16 best-known ridersthat hung up their cleats in 2005 with a combined 568 career wins:

LANCE ARMSTRONG (USA), 34
Teams: Discovery Channel (2005), U.S. Postal Service (1998-2004),Cofidis (1997), Motorola (1992-96)Major wins
Tour de France (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
World Road Championship (1993)
Clasica San Sebastian (1995)
Flèche Wallonne (1996)
GP des Nations (2000)
Tour of Switzerland (2001)
Dauphiné-Libéré (2002 and 2003)
Tour of Luxembourg (1998)
Midi Libre (2002)
Tour DuPont (1995 and 1996)
Tour de Georgia (2004)
USPRO Championship (1993)Other: All-time record 7 Tour de France wins; 22 stage wins atTour (from 1993 to 2005); 83 days in yellow jersey; Olympic bronze medalin TT (2000)Runner-up: Liège-Bastogne-Liège (1994, 1996), AmstelGold Race (1999, 2001), San Sebastian (1994), Zürich (1992), Paris-Nice(1996), Critérium International (2002), Classique des Alpes (2001)Career wins: 89

MARIO CIPOLLINI (I), 38
Teams: Liquigas-Bianchi (2005), Domina Vacanze (2003-04), Acqua &Sapone (2002), Saeco (1996-2001), Mercatone Uno (1994-95), GB-MG (1992-93),Del Tongo (1989-91)Major wins:
World Road Championship (2002)
Milan-San Remo (2002)
Ghent-Wevelgem (1992, 1993, 2002)
Italian Championship (1996)
Schelde GP (1991, 1992)
GP E3 Harelbeke (1993)
Luis Puig Trophy (1995, 1999)Other: 43 stages of Giro d’Italia (all-time record) (between 1990 and2003); 6 days in pink jersey; 12 stages of Tour de France (between 1993and 1999); 6 days in yellow jerseyRunner-up: Milan-San Remo (1994, 2001), Ghent-Wevelgem (1991)Career wins: 189
FRANCESCO CASAGRANDE (I), 35
Teams: Naturino (2005), Lampre (2003-04), Fassa Bortolo (2001-02),Vini Caldirola (1999-2000), Cofidis (1998), Saeco (1996-97), MercatoneUno (1992-95)Major wins:
Clasica San Sebastian (1998, 1999)
Flèche Wallonne (2000)
Tour of Switzerland (1999)
Giro del Trentino (2002, 2002)
Tirreno-Adriatico (1996)
Tour of the Basque Country (1996)
Tour of Tuscany (1994)
Tour of Emilia (1994)
Milan-Turin (1994)
Tour of the Apennines (1995)
Coppa Agostoni (2001, 2003)Other: 2 stage wins at Giro d’Italia; 12 days in pink jerseyRunner-up: Giro d’Italia (2000), Tour of Lombardy (2000), Clasica SanSebastian (2001), Giro del Lazio (1999), HEW Cyclassics (2000), Giro delVeneto (1999, 2000), Tour of Emilia (2001, 2004)Career wins: 51
PAVEL TONKOV (Rus), 36
Teams: LPR (2005), Vini Caldirola (2004), CCC (2003), Lampre (2002),Mercury-Viatel (2001), Mapei (1997-2000), Panaria (1996), Lampre (1992-95)Major wins:
Giro d’Italia (1996)
Tour of Switzerland (1996)
Tour de Romandie (1997)
Tour of the Apennines (1997-98)Other: 7 stage wins at Giro d’Italia; 20 days in pink jerseyRunner-up: Giro d’Italia (1997, 1998), Dauphiné Libéré(2001), Tour of the Apennines (1999)Career wins: 36
ANGEL CASERO (Sp), 33
Teams: Comunidad Valenciana (2004-05), Coast (2002-03), Festina (2000-01),Vitalicio (1998-99), Banesto (1994-97)Major wins:
Vuelta a España (2001)
Spanish national champion (1998, 1999)
Tour de l’Avenir (1994)Runner-up: Vuelta a España (2000)Career wins: 10
ROLF ALDAG (G), 37
Teams: T-Mobile (2004-05), Telekom (1993-2003), Helvetia (1991-92)Major wins:
German national championship (2000)
Tour of Bavaria (199)
Hofbrau Cup 1994)Career wins: 26
UWE PESCHEL (G), 37
Teams: Gerolsteiner (1999-2005), Estepona (1998), Cantina Tollo (1997)Major wins:
GP des Nations (1997, 2002)
German TT championship (1998, 2002)
Eddy Merckx GP (2003)Other: Olympic gold medal in TTT (1992)Runner-up: World TT Championship (2003), GP des Nations (2004)Career wins: 13
IGOR GONZALEZ DE GALDEANO (Sp), 32
Teams: Liberty Seguros (2004-05), ONCE (2001-03), Vitalicio (1999-2000),Euskadi (1995-98)Major wins:
Tour of Germany (2002)
Clasica Sabinanigo (1998)
Spanish TT championship (2002)Other: 7 days in Tour yellow jerseyRunner-up: Vuelta a España (1999), Midi Libre (2002), BicicletaVasca (2000)Career wins: 13
NIKI AEBERSOLD (Swi), 33
Teams: Phonak (2003-05), Coast (2001-02), Rabobank (199-2000), PostSwiss (1997-98), PMU Romand (1996)Major wins:
Milan Turin (1998)
Swiss national championship (1998)Runner-up: Milan-Turin (20010Career wins: 16
LUDO DIERCKXSENS (B), 41
Teams: Landbouwkrediet (2003-05), Lampre (1999-2002), Lotto (1998),Tönissteiner (1996-97), Collstrop 1995), Saxon (1994)Major wins:
Belgian national championship (1999)
GP Denain (1997)
Paris-Bourges (1998)
GP Marseillaise (2003)Other: 1 stage win at Tour de FranceCareer wins: 24
TRISTAN HOFFMAN (Nl), 35
Teams: CSC (2001-05), MemoryCard (2000), TVM (1991-99)Major wins
Dutch national championship (1992)
Paris-Bourges (1996)
Veenendaal-Veenendaal (1999)
Dwars door Vlaanderen (1996, 2000)Runner-up: Paris-Roubaix (2004)Career wins: 20
MARCO SERPELLINI (I), 33
Teams: Gerolsteiner (2004-05), Lampre (1999-2003), Brescialat (1997-98),Panaria (1996), Lampre-Panaria (1994-95)Major wins:
Tour of Portugal (1998)
Tour of Piedmont (1998)
Milan-Vignola (2000)
GP Cerami (1996, 1998)
GP Camaiore (2003)Other: World junior road champion (1990)Runner-up: Tour of Piedmont (1999)Career wins: 9
BART VOSKAMP (Nl), 37
Teams: Skil-Moser (2005), Chocolade Jacques (2004), Bankgiroloterij(2001-03), Polti (2000), TVM (1993-1999)Major wins:
Tour of Belgium (2002)
Dutch TT championship (1999, 2001)
GP Cerami (2003)Other: 1 stage win at Tour de FranceCareer wins: 25
JAVIER PASCUAL LLORENTE (Sp), 34
Teams: Comunidad Valenciana (2004-05), Kelme (1999-2003), Avianca (1998),Flavia (1997), Santa Clara (1995-96)Major wins:
Ruta del Sol (2003)
Tour of Murcia (2003)
Vuelta Castilla y León (2001)Career wins: 13
PETER FARAZIJN (B), 36
Teams: Cofidis (1999-2005), Lotto (1993-98), Telekom (1992), Weinmann(1991)Major wins: GP Wallonie (1994)Career wins: 2
ANDREA TAFI (I), 39
Teams: Saunier Duval (2005), Alessio (2004), CSC (2003), Mapei (1994-2002), Carrera (1992-93), Selle Italia (1990-91), Eurocar (1989).Major wins:Paris-Roubaix (1999)
Tour of Lombardy (1996)
Tour of Flanders (2002)
Paris-Tours (2000)
Rochester Classic (1997)
Giro del Lazio (1991, 1996, 1998)
Tour of Piedmont (1999)
Paris-Brussels (1996)
Coppa Agostoni (1998)
GP Camaiore (1998)
Italian national championship (1998)
Runner-up: Paris-Roubaix (1998), Amstel Gold Race (1997)Career wins: 32