Paolo Tiralongo

Who is Paolo Tiralongo?

Paolo Tiralongo is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team Astana.

In 2009, while riding for Lampre-NGC, Tiralongo registered his best final result on a Grand Tour, finishing the Vuelta a Espana in eighth position after riding consistently in the mountain stages. He conceded a little over 9 minutes to the victor, Spaniard Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d'Epargne. He joined Astana for the 2010 season, on a 2-year contract. In 2011, Tiralongo took a notable victory on stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia, a summit finish to Macugnaga. He attacked in the final kilometers and went clear of the lead group, but was joined by Alberto Contador in the final few meters. He came first on the line, taking his first victory in more than ten years.

In 2012, he won another stage in the Giro d'Italia, stage 7, which was a hilltop finish atop Rocca di Cambio. With 500 meters to go, Tiralongo followed an attack initiated by Michele Scarponi of Lampre-ISD and he passed Scarponi inside of the final 100 meters. He laid on the ground afterward, out of breath.