Three-time champion Óscar Freire, first confirmed for “La Vuelta Ibiza MTB SCOTT by Shimano”
His partner for this twenty-second edition will be his son, Marcos Freire, a promising young man who was already training with Pogacar and Ayuso's UAE Emirates last year.
Ibiza, February 14, 2023. Without a doubt, “La Vuelta a Ibiza MTB SCOTT by Shimano” is one of the tests that most athletes manage to gather every Easter. No one wants to miss out on the charm of the most famous stage event on the national scene. The magic of Ibiza is unique and big names in cycling have come together over the years. For this edition the first confirmed is the great Óscar Freire.
Currently retired, he is still linked to cycling and has an amazing track record that leaves no one indifferent. Record of victories in the Road Cycling World Championship, he is considered one of the best sprinters of his time. He was world champion in 1999, 2001 and 2004, as well as winning the Milan-San Remo in 2004, 2007 and 2010. He was the only Spaniard to have finished on the podium in the now disappeared World Cup and in his participation in the Tour de France in 2008, he took the green jersey. He was also present at the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, missing London 2012 due to an injury that later led to his withdrawal.
“La Vuelta a Ibiza MTB SCOTT by Shimano” is going to be very special for me. It is the first time that I run with my son and I am especially excited. I think it will be a very nice experience, in which we will have to improvise because he still has a long way to go”, he pointed out regarding his partner in this appointment. In addition, he believes that it is a good opportunity to get to know Ibiza in another way. “The island has much more to offer than people think. It has incredible sites, many corners to discover. In mountain bike races you have to solve problems at the moment, it's not the same as the road”.
You are at a point in your life where you want to do different things. "I want to do different things," he highlighted. “I want MTB. I would have loved that when I was a professional it were allowed to participate in these types of tests”.
“La Vuelta a Ibiza MTB SCOTT by Shimano” will be his second event in pairs. “I come with very good recommendations from Purito, Hermida… Sometimes they talk very well about other tests and then you find something that has nothing to do with it, but they have pointed out how different Ibiza is. The organization, the people, the route... It is worth it for those who go and come back for a reason”.
You can see him in action on April 7, 8 and 9 in Ibiza, enjoying the tour that the organization prepares and improves year after year. His partner, as he has already pointed out, will be his son, Marcos Freire. At his 16 years old, the young man is already a promise of national cycling and rubs shoulders with professionals such as Pogacar or Ayuso. Both will run in the father and son category.
They will be able to discover the most unknown Ibiza. Unique landscapes that can only be seen on two wheels, crossing the most hidden spots on the island. In addition to enjoying everything that the event offers at a sporting level, they will find themselves in the spirit that “La Vuelta a Ibiza MTB SCOTT by Shimano” represents, where friendship and a good atmosphere coexist with the most competitive part of the 1,000 participants who attend each year.
