Oier Lazkano suspended for biological passport 'abnormalities'
The UCI has confirmed that Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider Oier Lazkano has been provisionally suspended due to 'unexplained abnormalities' in his biological passport in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Oier Lazkano has been provisionally suspended by the UCI after unexplained abnormalities were detected in his biological passport spanning 2022, 2023 and 2024.
The 25-year-old, who joined Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe at the start of 2025 following three seasons with Movistar, has competed in just 15 race days with his new team. His last appearance came at Paris-Roubaix on 13 April, where he featured in the day’s breakaway. Lazkano was not present at the team’s first gathering ahead of the 2026 season in Salzburg last week.
A statement released by the UCI confirmed the suspension was implemented “in accordance with the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, due to unexplained abnormalities in his Athlete Biological Passport in 2022, 2023 and 2024.”
Shortly after the UCI announcement, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe confirmed that Lazkano had departed the team. Red Bull did not state whether his absence from racing since April had been due to queries over his biological passport.
“We confirm that Oier Lazkano will no longer be part of our team,” read the statement. “This follows the decision of the UCI to provisionally suspend him. The matter concerns the seasons 2022-2024 – a time before he joined our team.”
Lazkano turned professional with Caja Rural in 2020, winning a stage of the Volta a Portugal in his debut season. He moved on to Movistar in 2022 and he would enjoy a breakout campaign in 2023, placing second at Dwars door Vlaanderen after an all-action display and then winning the Spanish road race title.
He continued to draw the eye in 2024, winning the Clásica Jaén Paraíso Interior and placing third at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, before taking ninth at the Critérium du Dauphiné after an astonishing series of climbing displays.
The Basque was among Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s marquee signings for the 2025 season, but he made no impression in his first outings with the team and his final appearance came at Paris-Roubaix.
A day after the UCI announced Oier Lazkano’s provisional suspension, Movistar issued their own response, distancing themselves from any wrongdoing during the rider’s time with the team.
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