Ivan Basso
An Italian climber who conquered the Giro d'Italia twice, his career was a dramatic saga of brilliant ascents and a monumental fall from grace.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Italian cyclist·Birthday: November 26·Generation X
Biography
Ivan Basso emerged from the Italian cycling heartland, his talent for suffering on mountain passes evident from his early days as a professional. His rise in the early 2000s was meteoric, marked by podium finishes in the Tour de France and a reputation as a pure climber who could dictate the tempo of a race on any major climb. His 2006 Giro d'Italia victory for Team CSC was a masterpiece of tactical racing, cementing his status. However, his name became entangled in the Operación Puerto doping scandal, leading to a suspension that stripped him of his 2006 Tour results and two years of his prime. His return in 2009 was a story of redemption; he retooled his approach, joined Liquigas, and in 2010 delivered a second, emotionally charged Giro win, proving his resilience. Basso's legacy is complex, a testament to both the sublime athletic prowess and the troubled era of the sport he inhabited.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ivan was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ivan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Ivan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Giro d'Italia in 2006 with Team CSC.
- Captured a second Giro d'Italia title in 2010 with Liquigas–Doimo.
- Finished on the podium of the Tour de France twice (2004, 2005).
- Won the young rider classification in the 2002 Giro d'Italia.
Did You Know?
His nickname, 'Ivan the Terrible', was given for his punishing attacks in the mountains.
He served a two-year suspension from cycling for his involvement in the Operación Puerto doping case.
After retirement, he launched a professional cycling team, the 'Ivan Basso Cycling Academy'.
He is the father of cyclist Santiago Basso, who also races professionally.
“The climb is my terrain. It's where I can make the difference.”
