Pavel Sergeyevich Tonkov (Павел Сергеевич Тонков; born 9 February 1969) is a former professional road racing cyclist from Russia. His talents were first showcased when winning the world junior title as part of the Soviet Union team in 1987. This alerted the world to his talents, and he turned pro in 1992 with the RUSS-Baïkal team.

Professional career

His biggest success was the overall win in the 1996 Giro d'Italia. He went on to place 2nd in the following two editions of the Italian race and all total he placed in the top 5 of the Giro on seven occasions. He also had two top 5 performances in the Vuelta and while he entered the Tour de France on three occasions he never completed one.

He won the 1995 Tour de Suisse and the 1997 Tour de Romandie. He placed 3rd overall in the 2000 Vuelta a España.

Throughout much of his career, he was a client of the controversial Michele Ferrari.

He retired in 2005.

Personal life

He lives in Córdoba, Spain, where he manages a hotel.

Career achievements

Major results

1987

1st Road race, UCI Junior Road World Championships

1989

1st Overall Tour du Poitou-Charentes et de la Vienne 1st Stage 2 (ITT)

1st Overall Okolo Slovenska 1st Stage 7

1990

1st Stage 7a Peace Race

1992

7th Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Young rider classification

10th Giro dell'Emilia

1993

5th Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Young rider classification

5th Overall Tour de Suisse 1st Stage 4

9th Overall Tour de Romandie

1994

2nd Overall Grand Prix du Midi Libre 1st Stage 1

4th Overall Giro d'Italia

8th Overall Tour de Romandie

9th Overall Vuelta a Murcia

10th Trofeo Pantalica

1995

1st Overall Tour de Suisse 1st Combination classification 1st Stage 7

4th Overall Giro del Trentino

6th Overall Giro d'Italia

6th Chrono des Nations

9th Overall Tour de Romandie

1996

1st Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Stage 13

1st Stage 1 Tour de Romandie

2nd Giro dell'Appennino

9th Overall Escalada a Montjuïc

1997

1st Overall Tour de Romandie 1st Stage 4

1st Giro dell'Appennino

Vuelta a España 1st Stages 13 & 15

2nd Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Stages 3 (ITT), 5 & 21

2nd Overall Giro del Trentino

5th Overall Volta a Catalunya

7th Trofeo dello Scalatore

8th Overall Tour of Galicia

1998

1st Giro dell'Appennino

2nd Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Stage 18

9th Overall Tour de Romandie

1999

1st Luk-Cup Bühl

2nd Giro dell'Appennino

4th Overall Vuelta a España

9th Tre Valli Varesine

10th Overall Tour de Romandie

2000

2nd Road race, National Road Championships

3rd Overall Vuelta a España

5th Overall Giro d'Italia

6th Luk-Cup Bühl

9th Overall Tour of Galicia

10th Overall Volta a Catalunya

2001

1st Mountains classification, Tour of the Basque Country

2nd Overall Critérium du Dauphiné 1st Combination classification

3rd Classique des Alpes

5th Overall Euskal Bizikleta

2002

5th Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Stage 17

6th Overall Tour de Suisse

2003

3rd Giro dell'Appennino

2004

1st Stage 17 Giro d'Italia

5th Overall Giro del Trentino

8th Giro dell'Appennino

2005

1st Overall Clasica Alcobendas 1st Mountains classification 1st Stage 1

8th Subida al Naranco

9th Giro dell'Appennino

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

Grand Tour1992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004
Giro d'Italia754612255DNF13
Tour de FranceDNFDNFDNF
Vuelta a EspañaDNF4367DNF
Legend
Did not compete
DNFDid not finish

Notes