Mauro Santambrogio

Mauro Santambrogio
Personal information
Full name	Mauro Santambrogio
Nickname	Santa
Born	7 October 1984 (age 40); Erba, Italy
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	63 kg (139 lb; 9.9 st)
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	Climber
Professional teams
2004–2005	LPR-Piacenza
2006–2009	Lampre–Fondital
2010–2012	BMC Racing Team
2013	Vini Fantini–Selle Italia
2015	Amore & Vita–Selle SMP
Major wins
	One-day races and Classics Tre Valli Varesine (2009) Other Trittico Lombardo (2009)

Mauro Santambrogio (born 7 October 1984 in Erba) is a former Italian professional road racing cyclist, who last rode for UCI Continental team Amore & Vita–Selle SMP.

Career

Until 2009, Santambrogio rode for Lampre–NGC, and after the 2009 season he changed to BMC Racing Team. In 2010, he was mentioned in the Mantova doping investigation, and was sidelined for a few days by his team; he was again sidelined in 2011 when new evidence showed up.

After leaving BMC at the end of the 2012 season, Santambrogio joined Vini Fantini–Selle Italia. He made an excellent start to the season, including finishing 6th overall in Tour de San Luis, 7th overall in Tirreno–Adriatico and winning the GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano in pouring rain. He was clear of the group with Patrik Sinkewitz, when Sinkewitz crashed at a right turn with 2 km (1.2 mi) to go. Santambrogio then soloed his way to victory.^[1] Santambrogio then finished 2nd overall in Giro del Trentino. At the Giro d'Italia, Santambrogio won Stage 14 after attacking with race leader Vincenzo Nibali, to rise to fourth overall, and just one second off the final podium place occupied by Rigoberto Urán. However, Santambrogio's form collapsed and he eventually finished 9th overall. Santambrogio's surprising performances had caused rumours amongst the peloton of doping from early in the race.^[2]

Doping

On 3 June 2013, it was announced that Santambrogio had tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) after the first stage of the 2013 Giro d'Italia. This came just a few weeks after teammate Danilo Di Luca was thrown out of the Giro for testing positive for the same substance.^[3]^[4] Santambrogio was also sacked by the team.^[5] Santambrogio was suspended by the UCI until 2 November 2014.^[6]

On 22 October 2014, Santambrogio tested positive for testosterone and was suspended for three years.^[7]^[8] Santambrogio said he would not seek to return once his suspension has been served.^[9]