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.

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 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