Óscar Freire
Oscar Freire Gomez ( * February 15, 1976 in Santander, Spain ) is a retired Spanish road racing cyclist and three-time world champion.
He is regarded as unusual for the Spanish Cycling: Unlike many other Spanish professional cyclist, he is not a climbing specialist, but is considered a classic hunter and strong sprinter, the high tactical and technical abilities have been attributed.
Career
Freire won the 1999 as a relatively unknown rider sensational the Road World Championships, to attack by from a leading group of high-caliber driver surprise 500 meters from the finish. This success was repeated in 2001 and 2004 the Spaniards. He holds together with the cycling legends Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx the world championship record. In the road race at the World Championships eight more times could be in addition to his three titles to their place in the top twenty: In 1998, he was 17, in 2000 third, 2003 Ninth, 2007 14, 2009 15, 2010 sixth, ninth in 2011 and 2012 Tenth.
Each sprint he won four stages of the Tour de France and seven stages of the Vuelta a España. In Germany tour, he was successful once in 2001. In 2004, he won his first major one-day races outside of the World Championships, the Italian spring classic Milan-San Remo before Erik Zabel, who had already raised his arms to celebrate the feeling of a certain victory. Freire won the first victory in San Remo for Spain since Miguel Poblet in 1959. Again in 2007 and 2010 he won Milan-San Remo in a sprint.
In 2005 he not only won three stages but also the Tirreno- Adriatico Rating. As the first Spaniard he could win the green jersey in the Tour de France 2008. To this end, he could decide the following significant one-day race for the first Spaniard to: 2006 Vattenfall cyclassics, in 2008 the Ghent - Wevelgem Classic Half and 2010, the French -day race Paris -Tours.
Oscar Freire's career was repeatedly interrupted by a chronic back problem. He also had to do without in 2005 due to back complaints both to participation in the Tour de France as well as at the World Championships in Madrid.
Beginning of June 2010 announced Oscar Freire that he had extended his contract with Rabobank until the end of 2011 and will then end his career. However, he then drove his last season in 2012 in the jersey of the Russian Katusha team and was able to record two more wins, and are tenth in the World Championships in 2012.
Honors
In his hometown Torrelavega velodrome located there is named after him, where the 11th stage of the Vuelta a España was launched in 2006.
Palmarčs
1999
- Road cycling championships
2000
- Two stages of the Vuelta a España
2001
- Road cycling championships
- A stage Germany Tour
2002
- A stage of the Tour de France
2004
- Road cycling championships
- A stage in the Vuelta a España
- A stage of Tirreno- Adriatico
- Trofeo Luis Puig
- Milan - Sanremo
2005
- Trofeo Mallorca
- Trofeo Alcudia
- Three stages Tirreno- Adriatico and Appreciation
- Brabant Arrow
2006
- A stage of Tirreno- Adriatico
- Brabant Arrow
- A stage Basque Country Tour
- A stage in the Tour de Suisse
- Two stages of the Tour de France
- Vattenfall cyclassics
2007
- Trofeo Mallorca
- Two stages and Appreciation Ruta del Sol
- Milan - Sanremo
- Brabant Arrow
- Three stages Vuelta a España
2008
- Two stages Tirreno- Adriatico
- Gent- Wevelgem
- A stage in the Tour de Suisse
- A stage and points classification Tour de France
- A stage in the Vuelta a España 2008
2009
- Two stages of Tour de Romandie
- Trofeo Cala Millor
- Two stages Ruta del Sol
- Milan-San Remo
- Two stages Basque Country Tour
- Paris -Tours
- Two stages Ruta del Sol
- Tirreno Adriatico team time trial -
- A stage of Tour Down Under
- A stage Ruta del Sol