Javier Otxoa

Javier Otxoa

File:Javier Otxoa txirrindularia.jpg Otxoa in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Javier Otxoa Palacios
Born	(1974-08-30)30 August 1974 Barakaldo, Basque Country, Spain
Died	24 August 2018(2018-08-24) (aged 43) Alhaurín de la Torre, Spain
Team information
Discipline	Road & Track
Role	Rider
Professional team
1997–2001	Kelme–Costa Blanca
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France 1 stage (2000)
Medal record Men's cycling Representing Spain Paralympic Games Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens Road Time Trial (CP 3) Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing Time Trial (CP 3) Silver medal – second place 2004 Athens Track Individual Pursuit (CP 3) Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing Road Race (CP 3)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Otxoa and the second or maternal family name is Palacios.

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.

the only species of the genus Guemesia, Guemesia ochoai was named after him

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. 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.

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. 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. Kenny stated that he was disappointed by this as he would have liked to compete against Otxoa in the final.

At the time of his death in 2018, Otxoa resided in Alhaurín de la Torre, Málaga.

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

External links

• Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived 7 August 2007) (in Spanish)
• Javier Otxoa at Cycling Archives (archive)
• Javier Otxoa – official Tour de France results (archive)
• Javier Otxoa at the International Paralympic Committee
• Javier Ochoa Palacios at the Comité Paralímpico Español (archive) (in Spanish)