Luca Paolini

Luca Paolini
Personal information
Full nameLuca Paolini
NicknameIl Gerva
Born (1977-01-17) 17 January 1977 (age 47)
Milan, Italy
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight66 kg (146 lb)
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeClassics specialist
Professional teams
2000–2002Mapei–Quick-Step
2003–2005Quick-Step–Davitamon
2006–2007Liquigas
2008–2010Acqua & Sapone–Caffè Mokambo
2011–2015Team Katusha
Major wins
Grand Tours
Giro d'Italia
1 individual stage (2013)
Vuelta a España
1 individual stage (2006)

One-day races and Classics

Gent–Wevelgem (2015)
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (2013)
Brabantse Pijl (2004)
Giro del Piemonte (2002)
Medal record
Representing  Italy
Men's road bicycle racing
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Verona Elite Men's Road Race

Luca Paolini (born 17 January 1977) is an Italian former road bicycle racer, who rode professionally between 2000 and 2015. 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 Quick-Step–Innergetic (2003–2005), Luca Paolini achieved several victories. Among them were first places at Gran Premio di Lugano, Giro del Piemonte and Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli. He has also won stages at Tour of Britain and Tour de Wallonie.