Born in
Pamplona, Zandio grew up in a sporting family—one brother is a
footballer and another a
pelota player—and decided at the age of 17 to become a cyclist rather than work for his parents' butchery business. He began his professional career in 2001 with the team (which was renamed in 2004, and in 2005). After a difficult 2004 season in which injuries drained him physically and emotionally, he returned with a strong performance in the
2005 Tour de France. Finishing in 22nd place overall, he managed 4th in the 18th stage, and 2nd in the 16th, behind
Óscar Pereiro. He currently resides in
Pamplona and is married with two children. In September 2015 Zandio announced that he would retire from the sport at the end of the 2016 season after he signed a one-year contract extension with . ==Major results==