Spanish biking icon Óscar Freire has requested for privateness after he was reported lacking by his spouse on Wednesday earlier than being situated safely quickly after following a “strictly private and intimate matter.”
The three-time world champion reportedly left his dwelling “voluntarily” with out his keys or pockets on Monday, in line with El Diario Montañés, nonetheless after 48 hours with out contact, his household reported he was lacking the Guardia Civil.
Despite rapid panic being triggered and headlines around the globe of biking, the difficulty was shortly resolved by his brother Antonio, who spoke to Marca and dispelled any rumours.
“We don’t perceive the repercussions. There is not any information,” he stated. “Oscar has had a household downside and has been away from dwelling for just a few days and can return.”
After a day of tension, Freire’s entourage issued a press release to Spanish media shops clarifying that the 48-year-old was “positive” and asking for privateness within the household matter.
“We remorse the priority that the information of the short-term disappearance of Óscar Freire could have triggered and on the similar time we recognize the curiosity proven by followers and the press typically,” the Freire household informed the EFE information company.
“It is a strictly private and intimate matter… Something non-public and will by no means have been disclosed to the media.
“At the identical time, the bicycle owner himself and his household request that their privateness be revered and that feedback about it on social networks stop.”
Freire had simply returned dwelling from the AlUla Tour earlier than the false alarm.
His son Marcos Freire just lately made his 2025 season debut on the Gran Premio Castellón in his first yr driving for the UAE Team Emirates Gen Z improvement staff.
One of the very best Spanish one-day racers of all time, Freire scored massive wins all through his illustrious profession together with three World Championship street titles, Milan-San Remo and Gent Wevelgem.
He additionally had nice success at Grand Tours with 4 Tour de France stage wins and 7 victories at his dwelling Vuelta a España, driving famously for Mapei and Rabobank.
