Pedro Pablo Pérez

Pedro Pablo Pérez
	Pedro Pablo Pérez relaxes during the 2004 Vuelta a Cuba
Personal information
Full name	Pedro Pablo Pérez Márquez
Nickname	"Pedro Pablo"
Born	February 7, 1977 (age 44); Cuba
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	197 lb (89 kg)
Team information
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	All-around
Amateur team
	Cuban National Team
Major wins
	2000 Vuelta a Cuba; 2000 Vuelta a Uruguay (Stage); 2001 Vuelta a Cuba; 2002 Clasico de Ciudad Caracas; 2002 Clasico de Ciudad Caracas; 2004 Vuelta a Cuba; 2006 Vuelta a Chiriqui (Stage); 2006 Vuelta a Costa Rica (Stage); 2007 Vuelta a Cuba; 2008 Vuelta a Cuba; 2008 Vuelta a Tachira (Stage); 2008 Premio Augustin Alcantara
Medal record
Representing Cuba
Men's road cycling
Pan American Games

Pedro Pablo Pérez Márquez (born February 7, 1977) is a Cuban professional racing cyclist. Known as "Pedro Pablo" by fans and competitors alike, Pérez is a five-time winner of the Vuelta a Cuba, a Pan American Games medalist, many times the National Champion of Cuba and a winner of international cycling events across the globe.

Cycling experience[]

Pérez is one of the greatest Cuban cyclists of all-time. He is a five-time winner of the Vuelta a Cuba (2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008) – second only to his compatriot Eduardo Alonso with six. Pérez represented Cuba in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and qualified for the 2008 Beijing Games.

Career-ending Injury

Pérez missed the 2008 Games after suffering a near-fatal car crash in July.^[1] Details are unclear, but it is known Pérez was driving the car (a Lada) at the time when the crash occurred in San Cristobal, Pinar del Rio. Pérez suffered severe cerebral lacerations and spent several days in a coma. A female passenger was reported dead at the scene. He is receiving treatment at the Abel Santamaria hospital in the province of Pinar del Rio. Pérez intended to retire from cycling after the 2008 Olympics.^[2]

Palmares[]

1999

1st in Stage 1 Vuelta al Tachira, Barquisimeto (VEN)

4th in General Classification Vuelta Ciclista de Chile (CHI)

in Pan American Games, Road, Winnipeg (CAN)

2000

Vuelta a Cuba:

Winner stages 5 and 11A

Winner General Classification

1st in Stage 10 Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay, Montevideo (URU)

2001

Vuelta a Cuba:

Winner Prologue, stages 1, 11A and 12

Winner General Classification

Cuba National Road Race Championship

2002

1st in Clasico ciudad de Caracas, Elite/U23 (VEN)

Vuelta a Cuba:

Winner stage 2

3rd place General Classification

1st in Stage 12 Vuelta a Venezuela, Quibor (VEN)

2003

in Pan American Games, Road, Santo Domingo (DOM)

2004

Vuelta a Cuba:

Winner stages 1, 2 and 7

Winner General Classification

2005

1st in Stage 6 Vuelta a Venezuela, San Diego de Alcalá (VEN)

2006

Vuelta a Cuba:

Winner stages 1, 6 and 9

Winner General Classification

2nd in National Championship, Road, Elite, Cuba (CUB)

1st in Stage 9 Vuelta a Chiriqui, David (PAN)

1st in Stage 2 Vuelta a Costa Rica, Playas del Coco (CRC)

1st in Stage 9 Vuelta a Costa Rica, Pérez Zeledón (CRC)

2007

Vuelta a Cuba:

Winner stages 4 and 5

2nd place General Classification

1st in Stage 2 Vuelta a Costa Rica, Playas del Coco (CRC)

1st in Stage 4 Vuelta a Costa Rica, Upala (CRC)

1st in Stage 9 Vuelta a Costa Rica, Santa Ana (CRC)

2008

1st in Stage 3 Vuelta al Tachira, Ciudad Bolivia (VEN)

Other[]

Pérez is the father of one child (a son, from his first marriage), and is currently married to Yoanka González, herself a World Champion in cycling.

References[]

^ "Cuban cyclist Perez in coma from car crash, will miss Beijing Olympics". Reuters. Retrieved July 22, 2008.
^ "Cuban Cycling Great Pedro Pablo Perez Wakes from Coma". Cuban News Agency. Retrieved July 22, 2008.

External links[]

Pedro Pablo Pérez at Cycling Archives

[1] "Cuban cyclist Perez in coma from car crash, will miss Beijing Olympics". Reuters. Retrieved July 22, 2008.

[2] "Cuban Cycling Great Pedro Pablo Perez Wakes from Coma". Cuban News Agency. Retrieved July 22, 2008.

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