Bjarne Lykkegård Riis, nicknamed The Eagle from Herning, is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who placed first in the 1996 Tour de France. For many years he was the owner and later manager of the Oleg Tinkov associated Russian UCI WorldTeam Tinkoff–Saxo. Other career highlights include placing first in the Amstel Gold Race in 1997, multiple Danish National Championships, and stage wins in the Giro d'Italia. On 25 May 2007, he admitted that he placed first in the Tour de France using banned substances, and he was no longer considered the winner by the Tour's organizers. In July 2008, the Tour reconfirmed his victory but with an asterisk label to indicate his doping offences.
Tinkoff was a Russian-registered professional cycling team from Russia and previously Denmark. It competed in the UCI World Tour. The team was owned by former Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis from 2000 until 2013 and Russian banker Oleg Tinkov from 2013 until it closed in 2016, who provided the teams last sponsor, Russian Tinkoff Bank.
Nicki Sørensen is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer, and was directeur sportif of UCI Professional Continental team Aqua Blue Sport and Israel–Premier Tech. He competed in five consecutive editions of the Tour de France from 2001 to 2005. Riding as an all-round rider who rode well in hilly terrain, Sørensen was a valued support for the team leader without many wins of his own.
Tinkoff Brewery is a Russian brewery founded in St. Petersburg by local businessman Oleg Tinkov in 1998 as a brewpub. Within a few years, it became one of Russia's largest brewery companies. In 2005 it was sold to InBev.
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish former professional cyclist. He is one of the most successful riders of his era, winning the Tour de France twice, the Giro d'Italia twice, and the Vuelta a España three times. He is one of only seven riders to have won all three Grand Tours of cycling, and one of only two riders to have won all three more than once. He has also won the Vélo d'Or a record 4 times.
Oliver Zaugg is a Swiss former professional road bicycle racer, who competed professionally between 2004 and 2016 for Saunier Duval–Prodir, Gerolsteiner, Liquigas–Doimo, RadioShack–Nissan, Tinkoff–Saxo and IAM Cycling.
Tinkoff Credit Systems was a professional continental cycling team based in Italy that had UCI Professional Continental status, raced in UCI Continental Circuits races and when selected as a wildcard to UCI ProTour events. The team was financed by Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov.
Mikhail Borisovich Ignatiev is a former Russian professional track and road bicycle racer. He recently rode for UCI ProTour team Team Katusha, as well as participating in various track events. He is known as a time trial specialist, and also has a reputation for making the breakaway in road races and trying, often with success, to solo to victory.
Evgeni Petrov is a Russian former professional road bicycle racer, who rode professionally between 2001 and 2016 for the Mapei–Quick-Step, iBanesto.com, Saeco, Lampre–Fondital, Tinkoff Credit Systems, Team Katusha, Astana and Tinkoff teams. He won the 11th stage of the 2010 Giro d'Italia from Lucera to L'Aquila. He was ejected from the 2005 Tour de France and suspended from cycling for two weeks after his haemetocrit was deemed over the limit by morning controls on the tenth stage.
Sport in Denmark is diverse. The national sport is running, but club sport is football with the most notable results being qualifying for the European Championships six times in a row (1984–2004) and winning the Championship in 1992. Other significant achievements include winning the Confederations Cup in 1995 and reaching the quarter final of the 1998 World Cup. Other popular sports include handball, esports, cycling, sailing sports, badminton, ice hockey, swimming, and recently also golf. A few youths also play basketball.
Nikolay Vasilievich Trusov is a Russian professional racing cyclist, who last rode for UCI Continental team China Continental Team of Gansu Bank. Trusov has been a professional since 2004.
Katusha–Alpecin was a Russian road bicycle racing team which competed at the UCI WorldTeam level using Canyon bikes. The team was created in 2008 by Igor Makarov, an ex-professional cyclist and entrepreneur. In 2017 the team took a broader international direction, still supported by Igor Makarov's company ARETI International Group, Swiss clothing company Katusha Sports and German shampoo manufacturer Alpecin. The team competed as a UCI ProTeam/WorldTour team between 2009 and 2019. Joaquim Rodríguez, Alexander Kristoff, Daniel Moreno, Simon Špilak, Filippo Pozzato, Luca Paolini, Ilnur Zakarin and Tony Martin are some of the most successful riders who rode for Katusha.
Jonathan Cantwell was an Australian professional road bicycle racer, who rode professionally between 2008 and 2014 for the Jittery Joe's, V Australia, Saxo–Tinkoff and Drapac Professional Cycling teams.
The 2013 season for the Astana cycling team began in January with the Tour Down Under. As a UCI ProTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour.
The 2013 season for Saxo–Tinkoff began in January with the Tour Down Under. As a UCI ProTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour.
Oleg Yuryevich Tinkov is a Russian-born entrepreneur and businessesman.
The 2014 season for Tinkoff–Saxo began in January with the Tour Down Under. As a UCI ProTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour.
The 2015 season for Tinkoff–Saxo began in January with the Tour Down Under. As a UCI WorldTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour.
Tinkoff Bank, formerly Tinkoff Credit Systems is a Russian commercial bank based in Moscow and founded by Oleg Tinkov in 2006. The bank does not have branches and is considered a neobank. It is the second largest provider of credit cards in Russia, and is the world's largest digital bank, as measured by number of customers. As of March 2022, Tinkoff Bank has had its credit rating withdrawn in compliance with sanctions imposed as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
