Javier Otxoa

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.

Javier Otxoa
Otxoa in 2009
Personal information
Full nameJavier Otxoa Palacios
Born(1974-08-30)30 August 1974
Barakaldo, Basque Country, Spain
Died24 August 2018(2018-08-24) (aged 43)
Alhaurín de la Torre, Spain
Team information
DisciplineRoad & Track
RoleRider
Professional team
1997–2001Kelme–Costa Blanca
Major wins
Grand Tours
Tour de France
1 stage (2000)
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Otxoa and the second or maternal family name is Palacios.

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]

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 Paralympics

References
  1. Churchill, Gerald. "Otxoa wins first mountain stage; Armstrong takes yellow jersey!". Roadcycling. Roadcycling.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  2. "Étape 10". LaGrandeBoucle (in French). Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  3. "Official results for Javier Otxoa". Tour de France. Archived from the original on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  4. "Cycling Memorials – Ricardo and Javier Otxoa". Daily Peloton. 25 September 2003. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  5. "Three Paralympics Golds for GB". Velodrome.org.uk. 8 September 2008. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  6. "Paralympics 2008 - Track Day 1". British Cycling. 7 September 2008. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  7. "Athlete Biography - OCHOA Javier". Beijing Olympics official website. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008.
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