# José Azevedo

José Bento Azevedo Carvalho (born 19 September 1973) is a Portuguese retired road racing cyclist, and most recently, general manager of UCI WorldTeam Team Katusha–Alpecin. During his racing career, Azevedo rode for ONCE–Eroski between 2001 and 2003 and for U.S. Postal Service between 2004 and 2006.

## Career

Born in Vila do Conde, Azevedo's principal career successes were fifth overall at the 2001 Giro d'Italia, sixth overall at the 2002 Tour de France and fifth overall at the 2004 Tour de France. He also made a second place in the Germany Tour, just behind Michael Rogers. He won the queen-stage of the German competition.
Until 2005 he was a renowned domestique; his primary role was to serve as Lance Armstrong's lieutenant in mountain stages, specifically stages in the Pyrenees Mountains. Lance Armstrong described him as the best lieutenant he has ever had. Nicknamed "The Ace", he moved to US Postal (which became the now-defunct Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) from Team ONCE (also defunct) in 2004.
In 2006 Azevedo wore the #1 background during the Tour de France and he claimed the highest finish in the general classification amongst his Discovery Channel teammates. Azevedo finished 18th overall, 37 minutes and 11 seconds behind race winner Óscar Pereiro, following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis.
To be able to spend more time with his family, Azevedo opted for a home team. He became the leader of the Benfica cycling team and aimed to win the Tour of Portugal. Azevedo finished his career at the end of the Tour of Portugal 2008.
In 2013 he was the directeur sportif for Chris Horner when he won the Vuelta.

## Career achievements
### Major results
#### 1994

    6th Overall Volta ao Algarve

#### 1995

    1st Prologue Grande Prémio Jornal de Notícias
    4th Overall Volta ao Algarve
    8th Overall Volta a Portugal

#### 1996

    1st Time trial, National Road Championships
    1st Overall Grande Prémio Internacional Costa Azul
    5th Overall Volta a Portugal

#### 1997

    1st Time trial, National Road Championships
    1st Stage 11 (ITT) Volta a Portugal
    6th Overall Volta ao Alentejo

#### 1998

    1st Overall Troféu Joaquim Agostinho
       1st Stages 3 & 5
    1st Stage 5 (ITT) Volta a Portugal
    4th Overall Volta ao Algarve
    7th Overall Volta ao Alentejo

#### 1999

    1st Stage 4 Troféu Joaquim Agostinho
    3rd Time trial, National Road Championships
    4th Overall Grande Prémio Jornal de Notícias
    5th Overall Volta ao Alentejo
    8th Overall Volta a Portugal
    9th Subida al Naranco
    10th Overall Volta ao Algarve

#### 2000

    1st Overall G.P. Portugal Telecom
    1st Prologue GP Sport Noticias
    2nd Overall Volta ao Algarve
       1st Stage 5
    2nd Overall Grande Prémio Jornal de Notícias
    4th Overall Volta a Portugal
    4th Overall Vuelta a Asturias
       1st Stage 4

#### 2001

    1st Time trial, National Road Championships
    2nd Overall Volta ao Algarve
       1st Stage 3
    5th Overall Paris–Nice
    5th Overall Giro d'Italia
    8th Overall Tour of the Basque Country

#### 2002

    1st Stage 1 (TTT) Vuelta a España
    3rd Overall Euskal Bizikleta
    3rd Overall Grand Prix du Midi Libre
    5th La Flèche Wallonne
    6th Overall Tour de France
    8th Klasika Primavera

#### 2003

    2nd Overall Deutschland Tour
       1st Stage 5

#### 2004

    1st Stage 4 (TTT) Tour de France
    5th Overall Tour de France
    10th Overall Paris–Nice

#### 2005

    1st Stage 4 (TTT) Tour de France
    10th Overall Tour de Georgia

#### 2006

    4th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
    5th Overall Vuelta a Castilla y León
    6th Overall Paris–Nice
    10th Overall Tour of the Basque Country

#### 2007

    1st Stage 4 GP CTT Correios de Portugal
    2nd Time trial, National Road Championships
    6th Overall Tour de Luxembourg
    6th Overall Volta a Portugal

#### 2008

    6th Overall GP CTT Correios de Portugal
    9th Overall Vuelta a Asturias

### Grand Tour general classification results timeline

| Grand Tour | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
| Giro d'Italia | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tour de France | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 26 | 5 | 30 | 17 |
| Vuelta a España | DNF | DNF | — | — | — | — | 34 | DNF | — | DNF | — |