Dario Alejandro Gasco

{{short description|Argentine mountain biker}}

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Dario Alejandro Gasco

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Dario Alejandro Gasco

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|1|20|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Concepción, Argentina

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = 1.80 m

| weight = 68 kg

| currentteam = Unattached

| discipline = Mountain biking

| role = Rider

| ridertype = Cross-country

| amateuryears1 =

| amateurteam1 =

| proyears1 = 2005

| proteam1 = Zenith MTB International Team

| proyears2 = 2007–2009

| proteam2 = Massi

| majorwins =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport | Men's mountain biking}}

{{MedalCountry|{{ARG}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}}

{{MedalBronze | 2007 Rio de Janeiro | Cross-country }}

| show-medals = yes

}}

Dario Alejandro Gasco (born January 20, 1987, in Concepción, Tucumán) is an Argentine professional mountain biker.{{cite sports-reference|title = Dario Alejandro Gasco|url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ga/dario-gasco-1.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418094122/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ga/dario-gasco-1.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 18 April 2020|access-date = 27 October 2013}} He won a bronze medal in men's cross-country racing at the 2007 Pan American Games, and later represented his nation Argentina at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Throughout his sporting career, Gasco has been training and riding for four consecutive seasons on Zenith MTB International, and Spain's Massi Cycling Team.{{cite news|title=Darío Gasco sigue brillando en España|trans-title=Dario Gasco continues to shine in Spain|language=Spanish|url=http://www.lagaceta.com.ar/nota/271267/deportes/dario-gasco-sigue-brillando-espana.html|publisher=La Gaceta|date=12 March 2008|accessdate=29 October 2013}}

Gasco spotted officially on his major international debut at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he delivered a bronze-medal time of 2:07:37 in the men's cross-country race, trailing behind U.S. rider Adam Craig and Brazil's Rubens Donizete within a two-minute gap.{{cite news|title=Darío Gasco y el bronce: "El orgullo es enorme"|trans-title=Dario Gasco and his bronze medal: "Pride is enormous."|language=Spanish|url=http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2007/07/15/deportes/d-08401.htm|publisher=Clarín|date=15 July 2007|accessdate=29 October 2013}}{{cite news|title=U.S. scores gold and silver in Pan Am Games mountain bike event|url=http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=3048|publisher=USA Cycling|date=14 July 2007|accessdate=29 October 2013|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234249/http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=3048|url-status=dead}}

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Gasco qualified for the Argentine squad in the men's cross-country race by receiving an invitational berth from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), based on his best performance at the World and Pan American Championships.{{cite news|title=Darío Gasco, un biker que nació para hacer historia desde Concepción|trans-title=Dario Gasco, a biker who made history from Concepción|language=Spanish|url=http://www.primerafuente.com.ar/noticia/713277-dario-gasco-un-biker-que-nacio-para-hacer-historia-desde-concepcion|publisher=Primera Fuente|year=2008|accessdate=29 October 2013}} He scored a twenty-seventh place in a 4.8-km sturdy, treacherous cross-country course with a time of 2:07:04.{{cite web|title=Men's Cross-Country Race |url=http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/cycling/resultsandschedules/rsc=CMM021100/standings.html |work=Beijing 2008 |publisher=NBC Olympics |accessdate=21 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819172012/http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/cycling/resultsandschedules/rsc%3DCMM021100/standings.html |archivedate=19 August 2012 }}{{cite news|title="Unbeatable" Absalon wins his second gold|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/08/olympics/unbeatable-absalon-wins-his-second-gold_82270|work=Agence France-Presse|publisher=Velo News|date=22 August 2008|accessdate=24 October 2013|archive-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201916/http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/08/olympics/unbeatable-absalon-wins-his-second-gold_82270|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Rob|title=French dominate the rest of the World|url=http://ftp.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/olympics08/?id=results/38|publisher=Cyclingnews.com|date=23 August 2008|accessdate=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029183853/http://ftp.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/olympics08/?id=results%2F38|archive-date=29 October 2013|url-status=dead}}