Michele Bartoli turned professional in 1992 and became a specialist at the one-day classics, winning three of the five monument races. He won the UCI Road World Cup in both 1997 and 1998. Bartoli’s first major win was the 1996 Ronde van Vlaanderen. He won Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 1997 and 1998, and added the Amstel Gold Race in 2002. He added his third monument to his trophy case in 2002 and 2003, winning the Giro di Lombardia both years. His other important palmarès include Züri-Metzgete in 1998, La Flèche Wallonne and Tirreno-Adriatico in 1999, and Omloop Het Volk in 2001. He never managed to win the World Championship road race, but placed third in both 1996 and 1998. He was never a factor at the grand tours, but did win two stages at the Giro d’Italia.
Italy