Pavel TONKOV

Pavel Tonkov became the first Russian to win a grand tour when he won the 1996 Giro d’Italia. He also finished second in the Giro in 1997-98 and won seven stages in the Giro during his career, which ended in 2005. Tonkov also won the 1995 Tour de Suisse, the 1997 Tour de Romandie, and was third at the 2000 Vuelta à España. Tonkov was Under-23 World Champion in the road race in 1987.