Javier Otxoa

Javier Otxoa

Javier Otxoa in 2009
Personal information
Full name Javier Otxoa Palacios
Born (1974-08-30) August 30, 1974
Barakaldo, Spain
Team information
Discipline Road & Track
Role Rider
Professional team(s)
1997–2001 Kelme cycling team
Major wins
1 stage - 2000 Tour de France
Gold medal - 2004 Summer Paralympics
Gold medal - 2008 Summer Paralympics
Infobox last updated on
January 7, 2009
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Otxoa and the second or maternal family name is Palacios.

Javier Otxoa Palacios (born 30 August 1974, Barakaldo, Greater Bilbao, Basque Country) is a Spanish cyclist, formerly of the Kelme cycling team. His name is sometimes spelled Javier Ochoa in media reports.

Road cycling career

In 2000 Otxoa won a mountain stage in the Tour de France on top of the Hautacam on a cold and rainy day.[1] He broke away with Nico Mattan with 155 km (96 mi) to race and dropped him on the col de Marie Blanque. Mattan rejoined him on the descent. Otxoa then dropped him again on the climb to the col de l'Aubisque and rode alone through the col du Soulor with nine minutes' lead as he reached the foot of the Hautacam. He paid for his earlier efforts on the hors categorie but held on to finish with 42 seconds advantage Lance Armstrong.[2][3]

Accident

In February 2001 a car hit him and his twin brother Ricardo during training. Ricardo died. Javier survived but was in a coma for a month and became seriously disabled.[4] He continued cycling, however.

Paralympics cycling career

In the 2004 Summer Paralympics he won a gold in the road race/time trial event and a silver in the individual pursuit. Otxoa was disqualified during the preliminary round of the individual pursuit (CP 3) at the 2008 Summer Paralympics, for riding too close behind his opponent, Darren Kenny, who had overtaken him.[5] Kenny stated that he was disappointed by this as he would have liked to compete against Otxoa in the final.[6]

Otxoa currently resides in Alhaurín de la Torre, Málaga.[7]

Palmarès

1996
General Classification Circuito Montañés
2000
13th Tour de France
1st Stage 10
2nd Mountains classification
1st Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia
2004
1st Road race/time trial, 2004 Summer Paralympics
2nd Pursuit, 2004 Summer Paralympics
2008
1st time trial, 2008 Summer Paralympics
2nd road race, 2008 Summer Paralympics

References

  1. ↑ Churchill, Gerald. "Otxoa wins first mountain stage; Armstrong takes yellow jersey!". Roadcycling. Roadcycling.com. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Étape 10". LaGrandeBoucle (in French). Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "Official results for Javier Otxoa". Tour de France.
  4. ↑ "Cycling Memorials – Ricardo and Javier Otxoa". Daily Peloton. 2003-09-25.
  5. ↑ "Three Paralympics Golds for GB". Velodrome.org.uk. 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
  6. ↑ "Paralympics 2008 - Track Day 1". British Cycling. 2008-09-07. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
  7. ↑ "Athlete Biography - OCHOA Javier". Beijing Olympics official website.

External links

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