Freire family laments news of Oscar's disappearance: "It is a strictly personal and intimate matter"
Cycling
The cycling world had one of it's biggest scares in recent days as it was reported in local news that former Spanish rider and three-time World Champion Óscar Freire had left his home without giving information, without wallet and keys and had been gone for two days. His family informed the police who began a search, luckily successful. However, the family did not like that t personal matter leaked into the media.
"We do not understand the repercussions. There is no news," Óscar's brother Antonio told Marca. "Oscar has had a family problem and has been away from home for a few days and will return."
The disappearance of the Spaniard - who had recently been in the news quite a lot over the possibility of becoming Spain's new national coach - raised many concerns. Currently, his son Marcos races for UAE Team Emirates - XRG's development team and is set to become a pro rider in the coming years.
However at home not all was well. Details, of course, were not shared. But the episode followed a personal matter that the family had wished would stay private. "It is a strictly personal and intimate matter… Something private and should never have been disclosed to the media. At the same time, the cyclist himself and his family request that their privacy be respected and that comments about it on social networks cease."
The Freire family also told EFE Agency that "we regret the concern that the news of the temporary disappearance of Óscar Freire may have caused and at the same time we appreciate the interest shown by fans and the press in general". The 48-year old retired from cycling in 2012 but left an untouchable legacy including three World titles, three Milano-Sanremo titles, four stages and a green jersey at the Tour de France, and many more pro wins throughout his career.
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- TP, for me now, is an alien...
leedorney07-04-2025 - You have to keep all else held equal or you're not isolating the change. A lighter rider is faster at everything, save downhills, all else held equal, as I keep showing. As for wind, just as in flat TTs weight basically doesn't matter, except that lighter equals slightly less rolling resistance. In the same manner, for a 30 kph headwind, weight doesn't matter, as the relevant equation is power vs CdA. The reason why more weight is helpful downhill is the same reason it's hurtful uphill, it "gives back" the energy (not speed) you gained by going up the hill. Lastly, in a sprint, weight is again counterproductive, assuming one has to accelerate up to speed. Accelerating a mass takes energy, and a heavier one takes more energy than a lighter one. Now, at most sprint speeds, almost all energy goes into wind resistance, but the acceleration of mass still does play a part.acem8207-04-2025
- Agreed. He was dropped hard on every other climb. Without the run up he might have not been in the final sprint. And why not try it? Kudos for him for trying to make the race rather than just following.mij06-04-2025
- To me it seemed like an attempt to get through the climb closer to the front, since his burst power was lacking. If he starts earlier he can take the hill slower and still not be too far behind by the top. It kept him in that group of 4, where he might have been dropped had they all stayed together to the bottom of the climb. Who knows, though. I’m just guessing.RidesHills06-04-2025
- No idea, there have been suggestions something is amiss, maybe he doesn’t have all his mind connected at some moments, I’d definitely do a thorough review of his consciousness under effort.Mistermaumau06-04-2025
- Pogacar and van der Poel have won the last 6 Monuments, and 11 of the last 13 Monuments. There’s never been domination like this by two riders, and we are in our third year of it. (Merckx and de Vlaeminck won a total of 30 Monuments between 1966 and 1979, but others were winning along the way, as well.)RidesHills06-04-2025
- Yes but what was the dumb effort by Van Aert to drop Pogacar, Vanderpoel and Pederson about.? Just showing face? If he had stayed on the wheels and not wasted energy, he might have got on the podium in the runners up sprint.Cyclingsbestfan06-04-2025
- What a loser.
santiagobenites06-04-2025 - I agree about the sprint or drilling it on the flat. Lighter rider versus heavier rider. Inertia is the natural tendency of objects in motion to stay in motion (e.g the heavier riders momentum) and objects at rest to stay at rest, unless a force causes the velocity to change.Cyclingsbestfan06-04-2025
- Definitely, he is a great rider, and this season might even be as good as last (in a perfect world, a few more Monuments, a Tour-Vuelta double, and the Worlds again), but he has to do this for years on end to compare to Merckx’s results from roughly 69 to 74. Yes, times have changed, yes competition is different, yes speeds are higher, and so on, but let’s let Pogacar be Pogacar and give him time. We can evaluate his career when he retires. Until then, let’s enjoy it while we have it.RidesHills06-04-2025