José Humberto Rujano Guillen (born 18 February 1982) is a Venezuelan road bicycle racer who competed professionally between 2003 and 2013, and most recently competed for Venezuelan amateur team Osorio Grupo Ciclismo.

José Rujano
Rujano at the 2012 Giro d'Italia.
Personal information
Full nameJosé Humberto Rujano Guillen
NicknameEl Águila de Mérida, Jojo, The Coffee planter from Santa Cruz de Mora
Born (1982-02-18) 18 February 1982 (age 42)
Santa Cruz de Mora, Venezuela
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight48 kg (106 lb; 7 st 8 lb)
Team information
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeClimbing specialist
Amateur teams
2009Gobernación del Zulia
2010Gobernación del Zulia
2014Boyacá se Atreve
2015Gobernación de Mérida
2015Coordinadora–FundaRujano
2016Multi Repuestos Bosa
2016–2017Gobernación de Mérida
2019Venezuela País de Futuro–Fina Arroz
2019US Lamentinois
2021Team Osorio Grupo Ciclismo
Professional teams
2003–2006Colombia–Selle Italia
2006Quick-Step–Innergetic
2007Unibet.com
2008Caisse d'Epargne
2010ISD–NERI
2011–2012Androni Giocattoli
2013Vacansoleil–DCM
Major wins
Grand Tours
Giro d'Italia
Mountains classification (2005)
3 individual stages (2005, 2011)

Stage races

Tour de Langkawi (2010)
Vuelta a Colombia (2009)
Vuelta al Táchira (2004, 2005, 2010, 2015)
Vuelta a Venezuela (2009)

One-day races and Classics

National Time Trial Championships (2007, 2009, 2013)
Medal record
Men's road bicycle racing
Representing  Venezuela
Pan American Championships
Silver medal – second place 2004 Cojedes Time trial

Career

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Born in Santa Cruz de Mora, Mérida, Rujano made his debut in the professional peloton in 2003 with the Colombia–Selle Italia team. In 2005 Rujano had his best year to date, finishing third in the Giro d'Italia and winning the mountains classification. In 2006 he left the Colombia-Selle Italia team for Quick Step and he moved to the Spanish ProTour team Caisse d'Epargne in 2008. His results were not up to the expectations of team leaders, who did not renew his contract at the end of the season. In 2010, Rujano joined the Italian Professional Continental team ISD-Neri.[1] He was not selected for the Giro d'Italia, his main objective for the season, so he left the team in May and returned to Venezuela.[2]

Androni Giocattoli (2011–12)

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At the end of 2010, Rujano signed a contract for two years with the Italian team Androni Giocattoli, directed by Gianni Savio who said that he "believed in his talent" and wanted "to revive his career." Rujano was recruited at the same time as the Italian climber Emanuele Sella, Savio referring to giving these two riders a "last chance".[3]

His main objective for 2011 was the Giro d'Italia, and especially its mountain stages.[4] He lived up to his objectives since he prevailed on 2 mountain stages in the race: stage 9 from Messina to Etna after original winner Alberto Contador was removed from the rankings due to a doping affair[5] and stage 13[6] from Spilimbergo to Grossglockner, while finishing sixth in the overall classification.

In the 2012 Giro d'Italia, Rujano pulled out of the race, reportedly suffering from mononucleosis.[7]

Vacansoleil–DCM (2013)

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Rujano left Androni Giocattoli–Venezuela at the end of 2012, and joined Vacansoleil–DCM for the 2013 season.[8] Rujano reportedly retired during the 2013 season,[9] but later in the season, he backtracked from his retirement and remained within the professional fold after terminating his contract with Vacansoleil–DCM.[10]

Major results

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Source: [11]

2002
3rd Overall Vuelta al Táchira
1st Stage 13
2003
1st Stage 4 Clásico RCN
2004
1st   Overall Vuelta al Táchira
1st Mountains classification
1st Young rider classification
1st Stages 5 & 13 (ITT)
2nd   Time trial, Pan American Road Championships
3rd Overall Vuelta a Venezuela
1st Young rider classification
2005
1st   Overall Vuelta al Táchira
1st Mountains classification
1st Stages 6, 7 & 13 (ITT)
1st   Overall Clásico Ciclístico Banfoandes
1st Points classification
1st Stages 4, 7 & 8 (ITT)
2nd Overall Tour de Langkawi
3rd Overall Giro d'Italia
1st   Mountains classification
1st Combativity classification
1st Stage 19
3rd Giro d'Oro
8th Overall Giro del Trentino
2006
7th Giro dell'Appennino
2007
1st   Time trial, National Road Championships
2008
5th Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia
6th Overall Deutschland Tour
6th Subida a Urkiola
2009
1st   Time trial, National Road Championships
1st   Overall Vuelta a Colombia
1st Stages 6, 8, 10 & 14 (ITT)
1st   Overall Vuelta a Venezuela
1st Stages 8 & 9
9th Overall Vuelta al Táchira
1st Stages 7, 10 & 11 (ITT)
2010
1st   Overall Vuelta al Táchira
1st Stage 8 (ITT)
1st   Overall Tour de Langkawi
1st Stage 6
1st Stage 7 Vuelta a Venezuela
3rd Overall Vuelta a Colombia
1st Stage 9
2011
1st Stage 1b (TTT) Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali
5th Giro dell'Appennino
6th Overall Giro d'Italia[a]
1st Stages 9[a] & 13
8th Overall Giro del Trentino
9th Overall Vuelta a Venezuela
2012
2nd Overall Tour de Langkawi
5th Overall Giro del Trentino
9th Overall Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali
2013
1st   Time trial, National Road Championships
2014
2nd Time trial, National Road Championships
2015
1st   Overall Vuelta al Táchira
1st   Mountains classification
1st Stage 6
2nd Time trial, National Road Championships
6th Time trial, Pan American Road Championships
7th Overall Vuelta a Colombia
2016
Pan American Road Championships
6th Road race
10th Time trial
2019
5th Overall Vuelta a Venezuela
10th Overall Tour de Guadeloupe

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

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Grand Tour 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
  Giro d'Italia 3 DNF 49 6 DNF
  Tour de France DNF
  Vuelta a España Has not contested during his career
Legend
Did not compete
DNF Did not finish

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Rujano was promoted one position retroactively, after Alberto Contador's results were disqualified following his backdated two-year ban in February 2012.[12]

References

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  1. ^ José Rujano I'm the third best climber in the world
  2. ^ Rujano leaves Neri-ISD, returns to Venezuela
  3. ^ Androni Giocattoli gamble on Rujano and Sella for 2011
  4. ^ Rujano returns to Androni Giocattoli
  5. ^ "Who 'wins' after Contador ban". Velo News. VeloNews.com. 6 February 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  6. ^ "José Rujano wins Grossglockner stage as Alberto Contador extends his lead". Velo News. VeloNews.com. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  7. ^ Shane Stokes (1 June 2012). "Rujano claims mononucleosis is reason for Giro withdrawal". VeloNation. VeloNation LLC. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  8. ^ "Vacansoleil unveils 2013 jersey". Cycling News. Future Publishing Limited. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  9. ^ "Rujano retires from pro cycling". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  10. ^ "José Rujano and Vacansoleil-DCM separate ways in good consultation". Vacansoleil–DCM. Vacansoleil Eindhoven. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  11. ^ "José Rujano". FirstCycling.com. FirstCycling AS. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  12. ^ "New winners emerge from Contador's suspension". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
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