{{short description|Swiss road bicycle racer}} {{use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox cyclist | name = Michael Albasini | image = Michael Albasini - 2018 UEC European Road Cycling Championships (Men's road race).jpg | caption = Albasini at the 2018 European Road Cycling Championships | fullname = <!-- if different --> | nickname = Alba | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|12|20|df=y}} | birth_place = Vevey, Switzerland | height = {{height|m=1.72|precision=0}} | weight = {{convert|65|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | currentteam = Retired | discipline = Road | role = Rider | ridertype = Puncheur | amateuryears1 = 2000–2002 | amateurteam1 = VC Mendrisio | amateuryears2 = 2001 | amateurteam2 = {{UCI team code|FAS|2001}} ''(stagiaire)'' | proyears1 = 2003–2004 | proteam1 = {{UCI team code|PHO|2003}} | proyears2 = 2005–2008 | proteam2 = {{UCI team code|LIQ|2005}} | proyears3 = 2009–2011 | proteam3 = {{UCI team code|THR|2009a}} | proyears4 = 2012–2020 | proteam4 = {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mitchelton-scott-finalise-25-rider-roster-for-2019/|title=Mitchelton-Scott finalise 25-rider roster for 2019|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=15 November 2018|access-date=3 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.greenedgecycling.com/news/wins-from-january-to-october-mitchelton-scott-men-confirm-roster-and-goals-for-2020|title=Wins from January to October: Mitchelton-Scott men confirm roster and goals for 2020|work={{UCI team code|MTS men|2020}}|publisher=New Global Cycling Services|date=11 December 2019|access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref> | majorwins = '''Grand Tours''' :'''Tour de France''' ::1 TTT stage (2013) :'''Vuelta a España''' ::1 individual stage (2011) '''Stage races''' :Volta a Catalunya (2012) :Tour of Austria (2009) :Tour of Britain (2010) :Tour des Fjords (2018) '''One-day races and Classics''' :Tre Valli Varesine (2014) :Grand Prix of Aargau Canton (2011, 2013) }}

'''Michael Albasini''' (born 20 December 1980) is a Swiss former professional road bicycle racer, who rode professionally between 2003 and 2020, for the {{UCI team code|PHO|2004}}, {{UCI team code|LIQ|2008}}, {{UCI team code|THR|2011}} and {{UCI team code|GEC men|2020}} teams.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/michael-albasini-to-become-swiss-national-coach-in-2021/|title=Michael Albasini to become Swiss national coach in 2021|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=24 September 2020|access-date=3 January 2021}}</ref>

==Professional career==

Albasini began his career in 2003 with {{UCI team code|PHO|2003}}, moved to {{UCI team code|LIQ|2005}} at the beginning of 2005, and signed with {{UCI team code|THR|2009a}} for the 2009 season. From 2012 until his retirement, Albasini rode with the Australian professional cycling team {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/albasini-joins-greenedge-in-an-easy-decision|title=Albasini joins GreenEdge in an "easy decision"|first=Jane|last=Aubrey|date=5 September 2011|access-date=1 January 2012|newspaper=Cycling News}}</ref>

In 2012, Albasini met success at the UCI World Tour race Volta a Catalunya. The six-stage event contained no time trials, and Albasini took the lead by triumphing on the very first stage over Anthony Delaplace from {{UCI team code|SAU|2012}}, getting a 42&nbsp;seconds overall lead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11409/Michael-Albasini-solos-to-Volta-a-Catalunya-opener.aspx|title=Michael Albasini solos to Volta a Catalunya opener|first=Ben|last=Atkins|work=VeloNation|date=19 March 2012|access-date= 14 January 2013}}</ref> On the very next stage, he was part of a select group of about 20 riders that were led to the line by Bradley Wiggins after a day in the mountains and he outsprinted his rivals, taking his second win in a row.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-a-catalunya-2012/stage-2/results|title=Albasini wins second straight stage at Catalunya|website=Cycling News|date=20 March 2012|access-date=14 January 2013}}</ref> He held on to his advantage on the following hilly stages, winning the overall classification by 1&nbsp;minute and 30&nbsp;seconds over second-placed Samuel Sánchez of {{UCI team code|EUS|2012}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/25032012/58/albasini-takes-win-catalunya.html|title=Albasini takes win in Catalunya|work=Yahoo! Eurosport|publisher=TF1 Group|date=25 March 2012|access-date=14 January 2013}}</ref>

In 2015, Albasini took a prestigious podium placing at the La Flèche Wallonne, coming in third place atop the Mur de Huy behind Alejandro Valverde and Julian Alaphilippe.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-fleche-wallonne-2015/results|title=Valverde wins La Fleche Wallonne 2015|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=22 April 2015|access-date=22 April 2015}}</ref> He later won the second stage of the Tour de Romandie, having the better in the sprint of a group of 49 riders who had survived the climb and descent of the Col de la Vue des Alpes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-romandie-2015/stage-2/results|title=Tour de Romandie: Albasini wins stage 2|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=29 April 2015|access-date=29 April 2015}}</ref> He repeated the feat the very next day in Porrentruy, winning by a couple of bike lengths over Julian Alaphilippe.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/road/take-two-albasini-wins-second-romandie-stage-wearing-yellow_368476|title=Take two: Albasini wins second Romandie stage, wearing yellow|work=VeloNews|date=30 April 2015|access-date=30 April 2015|author=Spencer Powlison}}</ref> He had to abandon the Tour de France on Stage 5, suffering from a broken arm after a crash.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://cyclingquotes.com/news/albasini_abandons_fractures_for_heroic_matthews/|title=Albasini abandons, fractures for heroic Matthews|work=Cycling Quotes|date=8 July 2015|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref>

In October 2019, Albasini announced that he would retire from the sport after the 2020 Tour de Suisse.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/michael-albasini-announces-2020-mid-season-retirement/|title=Michael Albasini announces 2020 mid-season retirement|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=31 October 2019|access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref> Following that race's cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland, Albasini announced that he intended to extend his career to the end of the 2020 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/albasini-prolongs-career-so-he-can-retire-on-the-road/|title=Albasini prolongs career so he can retire on the road|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=27 May 2020|access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref>

==Major results== Source: <ref>{{cite web|url=https://firstcycling.com/rider.php?r=91|title=Michael Albasini|work=FirstCycling.com|publisher=FirstCycling AS|accessdate=2 May 2025}}</ref> {{div col|colwidth=22em}} ;1998 : 1st 20px Road race, National Junior Road Championships ;2001 : 4th Overall Ster Elektrotoer : 6th Overall Grand Prix Guillaume Tell ;2002 : 1st 20px Road race, UEC European Under-23 Road Championships : 5th Overall Grand Prix Guillaume Tell : 7th Overall GP Kranj ::1st Stage 1 : 7th Giro del Lago Maggiore ;2004 : 5th Züri-Metzgete : 9th Paris–Bourges ;2005 : Tour de Suisse ::1st 20px Sprints classification ::1st Stage 5 : 7th Overall Three Days of De Panne : 10th Giro della Romagna ;2006 : Tour de Suisse ::1st 20px Mountains classification ::1st 20px Sprints classification : 3rd Grand Prix de Fourmies ;2007 : 5th Overall Circuit de la Sarthe ::1st Stage 4 ;2008 : 2nd Overall Tour de Luxembourg ::1st Stage 3 : 2nd GP Miguel Induráin : 3rd Overall Tour Méditerranéen : 6th Tour du Haut Var : 7th La Flèche Wallonne : 8th Gran Premio di Lugano ;2009 : 1st 20px Overall Tour of Austria ::1st Stage 2 : 1st Stage 4 Tour of the Basque Country : 1st Stage 5 Tour de Suisse : 9th La Flèche Wallonne ;2010 : 1st 20px Overall Tour of Britain ::1st Stage 3 : 4th Overall Tour de Pologne : 10th La Flèche Wallonne ;2011 : 1st Grand Prix of Aargau Canton : 1st Stage 13 Vuelta a España : 1st 20px Mountains classification, Tour of the Basque Country : 3rd Overall Bayern Rundfahrt ::1st Stage 3 : 4th Overall Tour of Oman ;2012 : 1st 20px Overall Volta a Catalunya ::1st Stages 1 & 2 : 1st Stage 8 Tour de Suisse : 2nd Road race, National Road Championships : 2nd La Flèche Wallonne : 4th Grand Prix of Aargau Canton ;2013 : 1st Grand Prix of Aargau Canton : 1st Stage 4 Paris–Nice : 1st Stage 4 (TTT) Tour de France ;2014 : 1st Tre Valli Varesine : Tour de Romandie ::1st Stages 1, 2 & 4 : 2nd Road race, National Road Championships : 5th Grand Prix of Aargau Canton : 6th Giro di Lombardia : 7th Trofeo Muro-Port d'Alcúdia : 7th La Flèche Wallonne ;2015 : Tour de Romandie ::1st Stages 2 & 3 : 2nd Grand Prix of Aargau Canton : 3rd La Flèche Wallonne ;2016 : Tour de Romandie ::1st 20px Points classification ::1st Stage 5 : 2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège : 7th La Flèche Wallonne ;2017 : 1st Coppa Agostoni : 1st Stage 2 Tour of the Basque Country : 1st Stage 1 Tour de Romandie : 2nd Vuelta a La Rioja : 3rd Amstel Gold Race : 4th Grand Prix of Aargau Canton : 4th Coppa Bernocchi : 4th Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli : 5th La Flèche Wallonne : 7th Road race, UCI Road World Championships : 7th Liège–Bastogne–Liège : 10th Tre Valli Varesine ;2018 : 1st 20px Overall Tour des Fjords ::1st 20px Points classification ::1st Stage 2 : 7th Road race, UEC European Road Championships ;2019 : 4th Time trial, National Road Championships : 10th Grand Prix of Aargau Canton : 10th Coppa Sabatini {{div col end}}

===Grand Tour general classification results timeline===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" | Grand Tour ! scope="col" | 2004 ! scope="col" | 2005 ! scope="col" | 2006 ! scope="col" | 2007 ! scope="col" | 2008 ! scope="col" | 2009 ! scope="col" | 2010 ! scope="col" | 2011 ! scope="col" | 2012 ! scope="col" | 2013 ! scope="col" | 2014 ! scope="col" | 2015 ! scope="col" | 2016 ! scope="col" | 2017 ! scope="col" | 2018 |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | {{cjersey|pink}} Giro d'Italia | 87 | — | — | — | — | — | 123 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | {{cjersey|yellow}} Tour de France | — | 145 | 115 | 58 | — | — | — | — | 110 | 86 | 70 | DNF | 132 | 98 | — |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | {{cjersey|gold}}/{{cjersey|red}} Vuelta a España | — | — | — | — | — | DNF | — | 122 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 118 |}

===Classics results timeline=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- !Monument ! scope="col" | 2003 ! scope="col" | 2004 ! scope="col" | 2005 ! scope="col" | 2006 ! scope="col" | 2007 ! scope="col" | 2008 ! scope="col" | 2009 ! scope="col" | 2010 ! scope="col" | 2011 ! scope="col" | 2012 ! scope="col" | 2013 ! scope="col" | 2014 ! scope="col" | 2015 ! scope="col" | 2016 ! scope="col" | 2017 ! scope="col" | 2018 ! scope="col" | 2019 ! scope="col" | 2020 |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | Milan–San Remo | — | — | — | — | — | 118 | — | DNF | 109 | — | — | — | — | 122 | 45 | — | — | 130 |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | Tour of Flanders | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | Paris–Roubaix | — | DNF | DNF | — | DNF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | {{N/A|NH}} |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | Liège–Bastogne–Liège | DNF | — | DNF | — | DNF | — | 64 | 97 | 87 | 75 | 51 | 95 | 56 | style="background:silver;" |'''2''' | style="background:#ddf;" |7 | DNF | 70 | 76 |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | Giro di Lombardia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | style="background:#ddf;" |6 | DNF | — | DNF | DNF | — | DNF |- ! Classic ! scope="col" | 2003 ! scope="col" | 2004 ! scope="col" | 2005 ! scope="col" | 2006 ! scope="col" | 2007 ! scope="col" | 2008 ! scope="col" | 2009 ! scope="col" | 2010 ! scope="col" | 2011 ! scope="col" | 2012 ! scope="col" | 2013 ! scope="col" | 2014 ! scope="col" | 2015 ! scope="col" | 2016 ! scope="col" | 2017 ! scope="col" | 2018 ! scope="col" | 2019 ! scope="col" | 2020 |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | Amstel Gold Race | — | — | DNF | DNF | 79 | 69 | 15 | 41 | 62 | 87 | 55 | DNF | 69 | 57 | style="background:#C9AE5D;"|'''3''' | DNF | 60 | {{N/A|NH}} |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | La Flèche Wallonne | DNF | — | DNF | — | DNF | style="background:#ddf;" |7 | style="background:#ddf;" |9 | style="background:#ddf;" |10 | 11 | style="background:silver;" |'''2''' | 21 | style="background:#ddf;" |7 | style="background:#C9AE5D;"|'''3''' | style="background:#ddf;" |7 | style="background:#ddf;" |5 | DNF | DNF | 49 |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | Clásica de San Sebastián | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | DNF | DNF | 32 | — | 70 | DNF | — | — | {{N/A|NH}} |}

{| class="wikitable" |+ Legend |- ! scope="row" | — | Did not compete |- ! scope="row" | DNF | Did not finish |- ! scope="row" | NH | Not held |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.greenedgecycling.com/team/michael-albasini Profile at ORICA-GreenEDGE official website] * {{UCI rider}} * {{Cycling Archives}} * {{ProCyclingStats}} * {{CQ Ranking}} * {{CycleBase}} * {{Olympedia}} * {{Olympics.com profile|michael-albasini}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Albasini, Michael}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Swiss male cyclists Category:Tour de Suisse stage winners Category:Swiss Vuelta a España stage winners Category:Sportspeople from Mendrisio Category:Cyclists at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Cyclists at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic cyclists for Switzerland Category:Cyclists from Ticino Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:21st-century Swiss sportsmen Category:Tour of Britain winners