Javier Otxoa Explained
Javier Otxoa Palacios (30 August 1974 – 24 August 2018) was a Spanish cyclist who was a member of the Kelme cycling team. His name was 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 155km (96miles) 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 driver of 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]
At the time of his death in 2018, Otxoa resided in Alhaurín de la Torre, Málaga.[7]
Major results
- 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 ParalympicsExternal links
Notes and References
- Web site: Otxoa wins first mountain stage; Armstrong takes yellow jersey! . Roadcycling . Roadcycling.com . 30 July 2012 . Gerald . Churchill . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061018062227/http://www.roadcycling.com/news/07102000.shtml . 18 October 2006 .
- Web site: Étape 10 . LaGrandeBoucle . 30 July 2012 . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131218134241/http://www.lagrandeboucle.com/article.php3?id_article=179 . 18 December 2013 .
- Web site: Official results for Javier Otxoa. Tour de France. 30 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080624060330/http://www.letour.fr/HISTO/TDF/riders/us/668.html. 24 June 2008. dead.
- Web site: Cycling Memorials – Ricardo and Javier Otxoa. Daily Peloton. 25 September 2003. 19 May 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195247/http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=4913. 3 March 2016. dead.
- Web site: Three Paralympics Golds for GB. Velodrome.org.uk. 8 September 2008. 8 September 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090107103805/http://www.velodrome.org.uk/paralympics08d1.html. 7 January 2009.
- Web site: Paralympics 2008 - Track Day 1 . British Cycling . 7 September 2008 . 8 September 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080913135915/http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/gbr/OlympicGames2008/20080907_paralympics_track_day_one.asp . 13 September 2008 .
- Web site: Athlete Biography - OCHOA Javier . Beijing Olympics official website . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080907064354/http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRMP/ENG/BIO/Athlete/6/1207086.shtml . 7 September 2008 .
