View source for Óscar Freire

{{Short description|Spanish cyclist (born 1976)}}
{{About||the street in São Paulo|Rua Oscar Freire|the metro station|Oscar Freire (São Paulo Metro)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox cyclist
| name          = Óscar Freire
| image         = Oscar Freire 2012.jpg
| caption       = Freire at the [[2012 Tour Down Under]]
| fullname      = Óscar Freire Gómez
| nickname      = ''The Cat'', ''Oscarito''
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|df=y|1976|2|15}}
| birth_place   = [[Torrelavega]], Spain
| height        = {{height|m=1.71}}
| weight        = {{convert|64|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| currentteam   = Retired
| discipline    = Road
| role          = Rider
| ridertype     = Sprinter, Classics specialist
| amateuryears1 = 1995–1996
| amateurteam1  = Ripolin Bondex
| amateuryears2 = 1997
| amateurteam2  = Pinturas Banaka
| proyears1     = 1998–1999
| proteam1      = [[Vitalicio Seguros]]
| proyears2     = 2000–2002
| proteam2      = {{UCI team code|MAP|2000}}
| proyears3     = 2003–2011
| proteam3      = {{UCI team code|RAB|2003}}
| proyears4     = 2012
| proteam4      = {{UCI team code|KAT|2012}}
| majorwins = '''[[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]]'''
:'''[[Tour de France]]'''
::[[Points classification in the Tour de France|Points classification]] ([[2008 Tour de France|2008]])
::4 individual stages ([[2002 Tour de France|2002]], [[2006 Tour de France|2006]], [[2008 Tour de France|2008]])
:'''[[Vuelta a España]]'''
::7 individual stages ([[2000 Vuelta a España|2000]], [[2004 Vuelta a España|2004]], [[2007 Vuelta a España|2007]], [[2008 Vuelta a España|2008]]) 
'''[[Race stage|Stage races]]'''
:[[Tirreno–Adriatico]] ([[2005 Tirreno–Adriatico|2005]])
'''[[Classic cycle races|One-day races and Classics]]''' <br />
:[[UCI Road World Championships|World Road Race Championships]] ([[1999 UCI Road World Championships|1999]], [[2001 UCI Road World Championships|2001]], [[2004 UCI Road World Championships|2004]])
:[[Milan–San Remo]] ([[2004 Milan–San Remo|2004]], [[2007 Milan–San Remo|2007]], [[2010 Milan–San Remo|2010]])
:[[Gent–Wevelgem]] ([[2008 Gent–Wevelgem|2008]])
:[[Vattenfall Cyclassics]] ([[2006 Vattenfall Cyclassics|2006]])
:[[Paris–Tours]] ([[2010 Paris–Tours|2010]])
:[[Brabantse Pijl (men's race)|Brabantse Pijl]] ([[2005 Brabantse Pijl|2005]], [[2006 Brabantse Pijl|2006]], [[2007 Brabantse Pijl|2007]])
| show-medals = no
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry| {{flagu|Spain}} }}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[road bicycle racing]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[UCI Road World Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1999 UCI Road World Championships|1999 Verona]]|[[1999 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Elite Men's Road Race]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2001 UCI Road World Championships|2001 Lisbon]]|[[2001 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Elite Men's Road Race]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2004 UCI Road World Championships|2004 Verona]]|[[2004 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Elite Men's Road Race]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1997 UCI Road World Championships|1997 San Sebastián]]|[[1997 UCI Road World Championships – Men's under-23 road race|Under-23 Men's Road Race]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[2000 UCI Road World Championships|2000 Plouay]]|[[2000 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Elite Men's Road Race]]}}
}}

{{Family name hatnote|Freire|Gómez|lang=Spanish}}

'''Óscar Freire Gómez''' (born 15 February 1976) is a Spanish former professional [[road bicycle racer]]. He was one of the top [[Cycling sprinter|sprinters]] in [[road bicycle racing]], having won the [[UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|World Championship]] three times, equalling [[Alfredo Binda]], [[Rik Van Steenbergen]], [[Eddy Merckx]] and [[Peter Sagan]]. In the later years of his career, he became more of a classics rider. He won the [[cycling monument]] [[Milan–San Remo]] three times, the green jersey and four stages in the [[Tour de France]] and seven stages of the [[Vuelta a España]], throughout a successful career.

Despite his diminutive stature, Freire was a world class sprinter. He had a training philosophy where he rode shorter distances than most professional cyclists, sometimes covering only about half the distance his colleagues would.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ontherecord-unisa.com.au/?p=1008|title=2012 Tour Down Under: It’s a sprinters affair|publisher=On The Record|date=12 January 2012|access-date=21 September 2012}}</ref> When growing up he contracted tuberculosis and narrowly avoided having a leg amputated.<ref name=":0">Fotheringham, A. (2014). The Exile. In: E. Bacon and L. Birnie, ed., ''The Cycling Anthology: Volume One''. London: Yellow Jersey Press, pp.208-230.</ref>

==Career==

===Vitalicio Seguros (1998–1999)===
Born in [[Torrelavega]], Cantabria, (where the town has named a velodrome in his honour)<ref name=":0" /> Freire became professional in 1998 with [[Vitalicio Seguros]]. He won one race that year, a stage of the [[Vuelta a Castilla y León]]. He came 11th in [[Paris–Tours]].

In 1999, Freire won little until the [[1999 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|UCI World Championship Road Race]] in October. He went to [[Verona]] to make up numbers in the Spanish team. He spent his prize on an elevator for his grandmother's apartment. After his victory, as with all his victories, his grandmother sung a regional folk song on his telephone.<ref name=":0" /> Prior to winning the World Championships, [[ONCE (cycling team)|ONCE]] had expressed interest in signing him, but following victory his inflated price was too high, meaning that he never rode for a native team again.<ref name=":0" />

===Mapei–Quick Step (2000–2002)===
[[File:Oscar FREIRE.jpg|thumb|left|Freire with Mapei at the 2001 [[Paris-Tours]]]]
Freire joined [[Mapei (cycling team)|Mapei]] in 2000. Upon joining the team, he spent his salary on a new family home for his parents and grandmother. It had been ranked best team since 1994. That year he won 11 races including two stages in the [[2000 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]. He also came third place in the [[2000 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|UCI World Championship Road Race]].

In 2001 he won two races and took the points competition in the [[Vuelta a Burgos]], before becoming world champion for the second time by winning the [[2001 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race]] in [[Lisbon]].

In 2002 he won a stage in the [[2002 Tour de France|Tour de France]].

===Rabobank (2003–2011)===
In 2003, Freire moved to [[Rabobank (cycling)|Rabobank]], where in his first season he won six races. 
[[File:Oscar Freire.JPG|thumb|upright|right|Freire with Rabobank in 2004]]
In 2004 he won [[Milan–San Remo]], [[Trofeo Luis Puig]], a stage and second place overall in [[Tirreno–Adriatico]], a stage in the [[Vuelta a España]] and for the third time, and the second time in Verona, the [[2004 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|world championship road race]].

He started 2005 winning three stages, the points classification and the yellow jersey at Tirreno–Adriatico, as well as the [[Brabantse Pijl (men's race)|Brabantse Pijl]], [[Trofeo Alcúdia]] and [[Trofeo Mallorca]], all before the end of March. His season was then cut short by a saddle sore.

In 2006, Freire won his second consecutive Brabantse Pijl. His stage 3 win at [[2006 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]] allowed him to lead for two days. At the [[2006 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]], he survived an early break of four riders to win alone on stage 7. Freire won the fifth and ninth stages in the [[2006 Tour de France]] and was contesting the points classification when he retired due to illness. During stage twelve, he was in a breakaway with three others. Freire's career has been blighted with injury and lay-offs. He had back problems, saddle sores and neck problems.
When [[Yaroslav Popovych]], riding for the [[Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team]], rode away for victory, rumours spread that Freire had been ordered by Rabobank not to ride for the victory, to secure help from the Discovery Team in the mountains. Although rumours were denied by both teams, Freire was upset after the stage. Freire continued his successful year by winning the [[Vattenfall Cyclassics]] ahead of German favourite [[Erik Zabel]]. Freire had half of Rabobank's victories in 2006. His season was cut short by neck and spinal injuries, forcing him to miss the Vuelta a España and world championship.

Freire re-signed for Rabobank in late 2006 until the end of 2008, rejecting [[Saunier Duval–Prodir]].

[[File:Oscar Freire 2008.jpg|thumb|left|Freire at the [[2008 Tour de France]], wearing the [[Points classification in the Tour de France]]]]
In the [[2007 Tour de France]], he did not win a stage, partly because [[Rabobank (cycling team)|Rabobank]] was defending [[Michael Rasmussen (cyclist)|Michael Rasmussen]]'s lead for a large part of the race. But he won three stages in the [[2007 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]].

In the [[2008 Tour de France|2008 Tour]], Freire wore the green jersey from stage 8. He won stage 14 and the [[points classification in the Tour de France|points classification]].

In the [[2009 Tour de France|2009 Tour]] he and [[Julian Dean]] were shot by an [[air rifle]] during the 13th stage from [[Vittel]] to [[Colmar]]. He was shot in the thigh and finished the stage 117th.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/freire-dean-shot-at-during-tour-stage|title=Freire, Dean shot at during Tour stage|website=[[Cycling News]]|date=17 July 2009|access-date=16 December 2012}}</ref>

In March 2010, Freire won the [[2010 Milan–San Remo]] in front of [[Tom Boonen]] and [[Alessandro Petacchi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/7488203/Milan-San-Remo-2010-Spains-Oscar-Freire-wins-in-sprint-finish.html|title=Milan–San Remo 2010: Spain's Oscar Freire wins in sprint finish|date=20 February 2010|work=The Telegraph|access-date=30 March 2010}}</ref> On 10 October 2010 Freire became the first Spaniard to win [[Paris–Tours]] and in doing so became the new holder of the [[Ruban Jaune]] for setting the fastest average speed in a classic race, he covered the 233&nbsp;km at an average of 47.73&nbsp;km per hour.<ref name="cycling news 3">[http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc/results  Cyclingnews.com] Gives details of 2010 edition of Paris–Tours.</ref>
[[File:Oscar-Freire.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Freire at the [[2011 Danmark Rundt]]]]
Shortly before the [[2011 UCI Road World Championships]] it was announced that Óscar Freire would retire at the end of the season if he did not win the World Championship road race. Freire ended negotiations to continue his contract with his team before the race, and noted health issues include worsening respiratory problems, having had sinus and [[nasal surgery]] in the last two years. He was unable to race the [[2011 Tour de France]] and was forced to abandon the [[2011 Vuelta a España]].<ref name="cycling news 4">[http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/freire-world-title-or-retirement Cyclingnews.com] Freire: World title or retirement.</ref>

===Team Katusha (2012)===
Initially, Freire planned to finish his career by 2012, but at the end of season 2011 he suddenly changed his mind. While his home [[Rabobank (cycling team)|Rabobank]] team, confused by the situation and Oscar's indecision, failed to provide him an extension for another year, Freire had to start talks with other teams.<ref name="cyclingnews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/freire-confirms-he-wants-to-race-in-2012|title=Freire confirms he wants to race in 2012|date=6 November 2011|work=The Telegraph|access-date=24 April 2012}}</ref> [[Omega Pharma–Quick-Step]], [[Lotto–Belisol]] and [[Geox–TMC]] expressed their interest to secure his service for season 2012, but Freire chose [[Team Katusha]]. He was reported to have been swayed by [[Team Katusha]] because the Russian team had a good number of other Spanish riders on its roster along with its well-organised structure and guaranteed entry into WorldTour races.<ref name="cyclingnews.com"/>
[[File:Oscar Freire - 6851604642.jpg|thumb|left|Freire in 2012]]
By 2012 Freire fully recovered from his previous health problems and managed to show very good results at the first opening races. In January he won stage 3 of Australian [[2012 Tour Down Under|Tour Down Under]], and then completed his success at stage 3 of [[2012 Vuelta a Andalucía|Vuelta a Andalucía]]. At the spring classics Óscar Freire finished 7th at [[2012 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]], while having taken two second places: one at [[E3 Harelbeke]] where he was edged on the line by [[Tom Boonen]] ({{UCI team code|OPQ|2012}})<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532234/boonen-wins-e3-harelbeke.html|title=Boonen wins E3 Harelbeke|work=Cycling Weekly|date=23 March 2012|access-date=21 September 2012|author=Richard Abraham}}</ref> and the other at the [[Brabantse Pijl (men's race)|Brabantse Pijl]], where he dominated the sprint of the chasers after lone escapee [[Thomas Voeckler]] of {{UCI team code|EUC|2012}} had crossed the line.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/04/race-result/brabantse-pijl-2012-results_213328|title=Brabantse Pijl 2012 results|work=Velo News|publisher=2012 Competitor Group, Inc.|date=11 April 2012|access-date=21 September 2012}}</ref> He then went on to finish 4th in the [[2012 Amstel Gold Race|Amstel Gold Race]]. He escaped from the lead group with {{convert|5|km}} to cover and held an advantage of 18 seconds at the bottom of the final climb, the [[Cauberg]]. He was passed in the final meters, but managed to hold on for fourth.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532467/gasparotto-wins-amstel-gold-race.html|title=Gasparotto wins Amstel Gold Race|work=Cycling Weekly|date=15 April 2012|access-date=6 January 2013|first=Nigel|last=Wynn}}</ref>

In an interview to the French magazine ''Velochrono'', Freire claimed to take part in the Olympics in London along with the [[Tour de France]] and [[UCI Road World Championships]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2012-will-be-final-curtain-for-freire|title=2012 will be final curtain for Freire|date=12 January 2012|work=Cycling News|access-date=24 April 2012}}</ref> Freire later admitted that he was contemplating retirement if he didn't win the rainbow jersey, and that he would keep riding for another year or two if he wins the 2012 UCI Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11640/After-Amstel-Freire-says-he-now-believes-he-can-win-a-fourth-rainbow-jersey.aspx|title=After Amstel, Freire said he now believed he could win a fourth rainbow jersey|date=16 April 2012|work=Cycling News|access-date=24 April 2012}}</ref> He retired from professional cycling at the end of 2012, reportedly refusing a deal from {{UCI team code|EUS|2012}}, who would have liked him to race for the 2013 season and then take a post in management.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/freire-turned-down-euskaltel-euskadi-offer-for-2013|title=Freire turned down Euskaltel-Euskadi offer for 2013|website=[[Cycling News]]|date=22 October 2012|access-date=16 December 2012}}</ref> The Basque team was suspected of trying to hoard in Freire's crucial [[UCI World Tour]] points, which would help them get a World Tour license for 2013, but the team management denied it.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/10/news/euskaltel-euskadi-denies-deal-for-points-with-oscar-freire_255997|title=Euskaltel–Euskadi denies 'deal for points' with Óscar Freire|work=Velo News|date=5 October 2012|access-date=16 December 2012|author=Andrew Hood}}</ref> In retirement he went to live, with his family, in Switzerland.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Fotheringham, A. (2014). The Exiile. In: E. Bacon and L. Birnie, ed., ''The Cycling Anthology: Volume One''. London: Yellow Jersey Press, pp.208-230.</ref>

==Personal life==
His son [[Marcos Freire]] is also a professional cyclist.<ref>{{cite web|website=as.com|url=https://as.com/ciclismo/mas_ciclismo/marcos-freire-tengo-que-hacer-caso-a-mi-padre-para-ser-mejor-n/|access-date=31 January 2025|first=Daniel|last=Miranda|title= Marcos Freire: "Tengo que hacer caso a mi padre para ser mejor"|date=31 January 2025}}</ref>

==Career achievements==
===Major results===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
;1997
: 2nd [[File:Silver medal uci.svg|15px]] [[1997 UCI Road World Championships – Men's under-23 road race|Road race]], [[1997 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Under-23 Championships]]
;1998 <small>(1 pro win)</small>
: 1st Stage 1 [[1998 Vuelta a Castilla y León|Vuelta a Castilla y León]]
: 3rd [[Spanish National Road Race Championships|Road race]], National Road Championships
: 3rd [[1998 Clásica de Almería|Clásica de Almería]]
: 3rd [[Circuito de Getxo]]
: 4th [[Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia|GP Villafranca de Ordizia]]
: 5th [[Giro della Romagna]]
;1999 <small>(1)</small>
: 1st {{cjersey|rainbow}} [[1999 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[1999 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
;2000 <small>(10)</small>
: [[Vuelta a Mallorca]]
::1st [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Palma]]
::4th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Sóller]]
: [[2000 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
::1st Stages 2 & 4
::Held {{cjersey|silver}} after Stages 4–7
: [[2000 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
::1st Stages 1 & 6
: 1st Stage 3 [[2000 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana|Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana]]
: 1st Stage 3 [[Giro della Provincia di Lucca]]
: 2nd [[Trofeo Luis Puig]]
: 3rd [[File:Bronze medal uci.svg|15px]] [[2000 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2000 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
: 3rd Overall [[Escalada a Montjuïc]]
::1st Stage 1a 
: 3rd [[2000 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
: 5th [[2000 Clásica de San Sebastián|Clásica de San Sebastián]]
: 6th [[2000 Züri-Metzgete|Züri-Metzgete]]
: 8th Overall [[Vuelta a Aragón]]
::1st {{cjersey|green}} Points classification
::1st Stages 3 & 4
: 8th [[Lancaster Classic]]
: 9th [[2000 Amstel Gold Race|Amstel Gold Race]]
;2001 <small>(3)</small>
: 1st {{cjersey|rainbow}} [[2001 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2001 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
: [[2001 Vuelta a Burgos|Vuelta a Burgos]]
::1st {{cjersey|green}} Points classification
::1st Stage 5
: 1st Stage 4 [[Deutschland Tour]]
: 2nd [[2001 Paris–Tours|Paris–Tours]]
;2002 <small>(3)</small>
: [[Vuelta a Mallorca]]
::1st [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Manacor]]
::1st [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Sóller]]
: 1st Stage 2 [[2002 Tour de France|Tour de France]]
: 3rd Overall [[2002 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
: 4th [[Eschborn–Frankfurt|Rund um den Henninger Turm]]
: 5th [[2002 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
: 5th [[2002 Amstel Gold Race|Amstel Gold Race]]
;2003 <small>(7)</small>
: 1st {{cjersey|yellow}} Overall [[Giro della Provincia di Lucca]]
::1st Stage 1 & 2
: [[2003 Vuelta a Andalucía|Vuelta a Andalucía]]
::1st {{cjersey|green}} Points classification
::1st Stage 1 & 2
: 1st Stage 7 [[2003 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
: 1st Stage 5 [[2003 Volta a Catalunya|Volta a Catalunya]]
: 2nd [[2003 Brabantse Pijl|Brabantse Pijl]]
: 4th [[Eschborn–Frankfurt|Rund um den Henninger Turm]]
: [[Vuelta a Mallorca]]
::4th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Manacor]]
::6th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Sóller]]
: 5th [[Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli]]
: 6th [[Brussels Cycling Classic|Paris–Brussels]]
: 7th [[2003 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
: 8th Overall [[2003 Ronde van Nederland|Ronde van Nederland]]
: 9th [[2003 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2003 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
;2004 <small>(6)</small>
: 1st {{cjersey|rainbow}} [[2004 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2004 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
: 1st [[2004 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
: 1st [[Trofeo Luis Puig]]
: [[Vuelta a Mallorca]]
::1st [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Alcúdia]]
::2nd [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Palma]]
::3rd [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Calvià]]
: 1st Stage 6 [[2004 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
: 1st {{cjersey|blue}} Points classification, [[Tour de Luxembourg]]
: 2nd Overall [[2004 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
::1st Stage 3 
: 4th [[2004 HEW Cyclassics|HEW Cyclassics]]
: 9th Overall [[Sachsen Tour]]
: 9th [[2004 Züri-Metzgete|Züri-Metzgete]]
;2005 <small>(6)</small>
: 1st {{cjersey|tirreno}} Overall [[2005 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
::1st {{cjersey|red}} Points classification
::1st Stages 2, 3 & 4
: 1st [[2005 Brabantse Pijl|Brabantse Pijl]]
: [[Vuelta a Mallorca]]
::1st [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Alcúdia]]
::1st [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Palma]]
: 3rd [[Trofeo Luis Puig]]
: 5th [[2005 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
: 5th [[2005 La Flèche Wallonne|La Flèche Wallonne]]
;2006 <small>(7)</small>
: 1st [[2006 Brabantse Pijl|Brabantse Pijl]]
: 1st [[2006 Vattenfall Cyclassics|Vattenfall Cyclassics]]
: 1st [[RaboRonde Heerlen]]
: [[2006 Tour de France|Tour de France]]
::1st Stages 5 & 9
: 1st Stage 7 [[2006 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]]
: 1st Stage 4 [[2006 Tour of the Basque Country|Tour of the Basque Country]]
: 1st Stage 3 [[2006 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
: 6th [[2006 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
;2007 <small>(9)</small>
: 1st {{cjersey|yellow}} Overall [[2007 Vuelta a Andalucía|Vuelta a Andalucía]]
::1st {{cjersey|green}} Points classification
::1st Stages 2 & 5
: 1st [[2007 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
: 1st [[2007 Brabantse Pijl|Brabantse Pijl]]
: [[Vuelta a Mallorca]]
::1st [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Palma]]
::10th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Calvià]]
: [[2007 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
::1st Stages 2, 5 & 6
::Held {{cjersey|gold}} after Stages 2–3
::Held [[File:Jersey granate.svg|20px]] after Stages 2–9
: 2nd [[2007 Vattenfall Cyclassics|Vattenfall Cyclassics]]
: 3rd [[2007 Gent–Wevelgem|Gent–Wevelgem]]
: 3rd [[2007 Paris–Tours|Paris–Tours]]
: 8th [[2007 Amstel Gold Race|Amstel Gold Race]]
;2008 <small>(6)</small>
: 1st [[2008 Gent–Wevelgem|Gent–Wevelgem]]
: [[2008 Tour de France|Tour de France]]
::1st {{cjersey|green}} [[Points classification in the Tour de France|Points classification]]
::1st Stage 14
: [[2008 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
::1st {{cjersey|red}} Points classification
::1st Stages 1, 4 & 6
: 1st Stage 11 [[2008 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
: 1st Stage 1 [[2008 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]]
: 2nd [[2008 Clásica de Almería|Clásica de Almería]]
: 8th [[2008 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
;2009 <small>(2)</small>
: [[2009 Tour de Romandie|Tour de Romandie]]
::1st Stages 2 & 5
: 5th [[2009 Paris–Tours|Paris–Tours]]
;2010 <small>(7)</small>
: 1st [[2010 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
: 1st [[2010 Paris–Tours|Paris–Tours]]
: [[Vuelta a Mallorca]]
::1st [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Calla Millor]]
::3rd [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Palma]]
: [[2010 Tour of the Basque Country|Tour of the Basque Country]]
::1st Stages 1 & 2
: [[2010 Vuelta a Andalucía|Vuelta a Andalucía]]
::1st {{cjersey|blue}} Points classification 
::1st Stages 2 & 3
: 6th [[2010 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2010 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
: 8th Overall [[Tour of Belgium]]
: 9th [[2010 Brabantse Pijl|Brabantse Pijl]]
;2011 <small>(2)</small>
: [[2011 Vuelta a Andalucía|Vuelta a Andalucía]]
::1st {{cjersey|blue}} Points classification
::1st Stages 3 & 4
: 1st Stage 1 ([[Team time trial|TTT]]) [[2011 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
: [[Vuelta a Mallorca]]
::2nd [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Magaluf-Palmanova]]
: 6th [[2011 Amstel Gold Race|Amstel Gold Race]]
: 7th [[Grand Prix de Wallonie]]
: 9th [[2011 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2011 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
;2012 <small>(2)</small>
: 1st Stage 4 [[2012 Tour Down Under|Tour Down Under]]
: 1st Stage 3 [[2012 Vuelta a Andalucía|Vuelta a Andalucía]]
: 2nd [[2012 E3 Harelbeke|E3 Harelbeke]]
: 2nd [[2012 Brabantse Pijl|Brabantse Pijl]]
: 3rd [[Brussels Cycling Classic|Paris–Brussels]]
: 4th [[2012 Gent–Wevelgem|Gent–Wevelgem]]
: 4th [[2012 Amstel Gold Race|Amstel Gold Race]]
: 7th [[2012 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
: 10th [[2012 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2012 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
{{div col end}}

===General classification results timeline===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|colspan=16 align="center"|'''Grand Tour general classification results timeline'''
|-
! Grand Tour
! scope="col" | 1998
! scope="col" | 1999
! scope="col" | 2000
! scope="col" | 2001
! scope="col" | 2002
! scope="col" | 2003
! scope="col" | 2004
! scope="col" | 2005
! scope="col" | 2006
! scope="col" | 2007
! scope="col" | 2008
! scope="col" | 2009
! scope="col" | 2010
! scope="col" | 2011
! scope="col" | 2012
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | {{cjersey|pink}} [[General classification in the Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]
| style="color:#4d4d4d;" colspan=15|Did not contest during his career
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | {{cjersey|yellow}} [[General classification in the Tour de France|Tour de France]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2002 Tour de France|DNF]]
| [[2003 Tour de France|96]]
| —
| —
| [[2006 Tour de France|DNF]]
| [[2007 Tour de France|DNF]]
| [[2008 Tour de France|68]]
| [[2009 Tour de France|99]]
| [[2010 Tour de France|141]]
| —
| [[2012 Tour de France|DNF]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | {{cjersey|gold}}/{{cjersey|red}} [[List of Vuelta a España general classification winners|Vuelta a España]]
| —
| —
| [[2000 Vuelta a España|DNF]]
| [[2001 Vuelta a España|DNF]]
| [[2002 Vuelta a España|DNF]]
| —
| [[2004 Vuelta a España|DNF]]
| —
| —
| [[2007 Vuelta a España|DNF]]
| [[2008 Vuelta a España|DNF]]
| [[2009 Vuelta a España|DNF]]
| [[2010 Vuelta a España|DNF]]
| [[2011 Vuelta a España|DNF]]
| —
|-
|colspan=16 align="center"|'''Major stage race general classification results'''
|-
! Race
! scope="col" | 1998
! scope="col" | 1999
! scope="col" | 2000
! scope="col" | 2001
! scope="col" | 2002
! scope="col" | 2003
! scope="col" | 2004
! scope="col" | 2005
! scope="col" | 2006
! scope="col" | 2007
! scope="col" | 2008
! scope="col" | 2009
! scope="col" | 2010
! scope="col" | 2011
! scope="col" | 2012
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | {{cjersey|white}}/{{cjersey|yellow}} [[Paris–Nice]]
| style="color:#4d4d4d;" colspan=15|Did not contest during his career
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | {{cjersey|tirreno}}/{{cjersey|azul}} [[Tirreno–Adriatico]]
| —
| —
| [[2000 Tirreno–Adriatico|13]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;"  |[[2002 Tirreno–Adriatico|'''3''']]
| [[2003 Tirreno–Adriatico|64]]
| style="background:#ddf;"  |[[2004 Tirreno–Adriatico|'''2''']]
| style="background:yellow; border:2px solid red;" |[[2005 Tirreno–Adriatico|'''1''']]
| [[2006 Tirreno–Adriatico|52]]
| [[2007 Tirreno–Adriatico|29]]
| [[2008 Tirreno–Adriatico|93]]
| —
| [[2010 Tirreno–Adriatico|52]]
| [[2011 Tirreno–Adriatico|53]]
| [[2012 Tirreno–Adriatico|DNF]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | {{cjersey|Volta a Catalunya}} [[Volta a Catalunya]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2002 Volta a Catalunya|61]]
| [[2003 Volta a Catalunya|62]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | {{cjersey|yellow}} [[Tour of the Basque Country]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2006 Tour of the Basque Country|37]]
| —
| —
| [[2009 Tour of the Basque Country|59]]
| [[2010 Tour of the Basque Country|40]]
| [[2011 Tour of the Basque Country|DNF]]
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | {{cjersey|green}}/{{cjersey|yellow}} [[Tour de Romandie]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2009 Tour de Romandie|75]]
| —
| [[2011 Tour de Romandie|80]]
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | {{cjersey|Dauphine}} [[Critérium du Dauphiné]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2004 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré|OTL]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | {{cjersey|yellow}} [[Tour de Suisse]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2005 Tour de Suisse|DNF]]
| [[2006 Tour de Suisse|DNF]]
| [[2007 Tour de Suisse|DNF]]
| [[2008 Tour de Suisse|DNF]]
| [[2009 Tour de Suisse|79]]
| [[2010 Tour de Suisse|66]]
| [[2011 Tour de Suisse|DNF]]
| [[2012 Tour de Suisse|DNF]]
|}

===Classics results timeline===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
!Monument
! scope="col" | 1998
! scope="col" | 1999
! scope="col" | 2000
! scope="col" | 2001
! scope="col" | 2002
! scope="col" | 2003
! scope="col" | 2004
! scope="col" | 2005
! scope="col" | 2006
! scope="col" | 2007
! scope="col" | 2008
! scope="col" | 2009
! scope="col" | 2010
! scope="col" | 2011
! scope="col" | 2012
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Milan–San Remo]]
| —
| —
| style="background:#C9AE5D;"|[[2000 Milan–San Remo|'''3''']]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2002 Milan–San Remo|5]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2003 Milan–San Remo|7]]
| style="background:gold;"   |[[2004 Milan–San Remo|'''1''']]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2005 Milan–San Remo|5]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2006 Milan–San Remo|6]]
| style="background:gold;"   |[[2007 Milan–San Remo|'''1''']]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2008 Milan–San Remo|8]]
| —
| style="background:gold;"   |[[2010 Milan–San Remo|'''1''']]
| [[2011 Milan–San Remo|94]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2012 Milan–San Remo|7]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Tour of Flanders (men's race)|Tour of Flanders]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2003 Tour of Flanders|30]]
| [[2004 Tour of Flanders|23]]
| —
| —
| [[2007 Tour of Flanders|49]]
| [[2008 Tour of Flanders|40]]
| —
| —
| —
| [[2012 Tour of Flanders|12]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Paris–Roubaix]]
| [[1998 Paris–Roubaix|DNF]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2002 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|22]]
| [[2003 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|35]]
| [[2004 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|14]]
| [[2005 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|96]]
| [[2006 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|14]]
| [[2007 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|77]]
| [[2008 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|11]]
| [[2009 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|14]]
| —
| [[2011 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|15]]
| [[2012 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|24]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Giro di Lombardia]]
| —
| —
| [[2000 Giro di Lombardia|13]]
| [[2001 Giro di Lombardia|21]]
| [[2002 Giro di Lombardia|26]]
| [[2003 Giro di Lombardia|49]]
| —
| —
| —
| [[2007 Giro di Lombardia|DNF]]
| —
| —
| [[2010 Giro di Lombardia|DNF]]
| —
| —
|- 
! Classic
! scope="col" | 1998
! scope="col" | 1999
! scope="col" | 2000
! scope="col" | 2001
! scope="col" | 2002
! scope="col" | 2003
! scope="col" | 2004
! scope="col" | 2005
! scope="col" | 2006
! scope="col" | 2007
! scope="col" | 2008
! scope="col" | 2009
! scope="col" | 2010
! scope="col" | 2011
! scope="col" | 2012
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[E3 Harelbeke]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2003 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen|23]]
| [[2004 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen|13]]
| [[2005 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen|DNF]]
| —
| [[2007 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen|12]]
| [[2008 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen|56]]
| —
| —
| —
| style="background:silver;" |[[2012 E3 Harelbeke|'''2''']]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Gent–Wevelgem]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2003 Gent–Wevelgem|38]]
| —
| —
| —
| style="background:#C9AE5D;"|[[2007 Gent–Wevelgem|'''3''']]
| style="background:gold;"   |[[2008 Gent–Wevelgem|'''1''']]
| —
| [[2010 Gent–Wevelgem|12]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2012 Gent–Wevelgem|4]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Brabantse Pijl (men's race)|Brabantse Pijl]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| style="background:silver;" |[[2003 Brabantse Pijl|'''2''']]
| —
| style="background:gold;"   |[[2005 Brabantse Pijl|'''1''']]
| style="background:gold;"   |[[2006 Brabantse Pijl|'''1''']]
| style="background:gold;"   |[[2007 Brabantse Pijl|'''1''']]
| [[2008 Brabantse Pijl|37]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2010 Brabantse Pijl|9]]
| [[2011 Brabantse Pijl|11]]
| style="background:silver;" |[[2012 Brabantse Pijl|'''2''']]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Amstel Gold Race (men's race)|Amstel Gold Race]]
| [[1998 Amstel Gold Race|45]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2000 Amstel Gold Race|9]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2002 Amstel Gold Race|5]]
| [[2003 Amstel Gold Race|14]]
| [[2004 Amstel Gold Race|14]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2005 Amstel Gold Race|10]]
| [[2006 Amstel Gold Race|17]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2007 Amstel Gold Race|8]]
| [[2008 Amstel Gold Race|19]]
| [[2009 Amstel Gold Race|64]]
| [[2010 Amstel Gold Race|14]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2011 Amstel Gold Race|6]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2012 Amstel Gold Race|4]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[La Flèche Wallonne]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2002 La Flèche Wallonne|19]]
| [[2003 La Flèche Wallonne|51]]
| [[2004 La Flèche Wallonne|32]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2005 La Flèche Wallonne|5]]
| [[2006 La Flèche Wallonne|75]]
| [[2007 La Flèche Wallonne|11]]
| [[2008 La Flèche Wallonne|33]]
| [[2009 La Flèche Wallonne|58]]
| [[2010 La Flèche Wallonne|88]]
| —
| [[2012 La Flèche Wallonne|83]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Züri-Metzgete]]
| —
| —
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2000 Züri-Metzgete|6]]
| —
| —
| —
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2004 Züri-Metzgete|9]]
| —
| —
| style="color:#4d4d4d;" colspan=6|Race did not exist
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Clásica de San Sebastián]]
| [[1998 Clásica de San Sebastián|72]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2000 Clásica de San Sebastián|5]]
| —
| [[2002 Clásica de San Sebastián|11]]
| [[2003 Clásica de San Sebastián|83]]
| [[2004 Clásica de San Sebastián|11]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2011 Clásica de San Sebastián|72]]
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Hamburg Cyclassics]]
| —
| —
| [[2000 HEW Cyclassics|13]]
| —
| [[2002 HEW Cyclassics|25]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2004 HEW Cyclassics|4]]
| —
| style="background:gold;"   |[[2006 Vattenfall Cyclassics|'''1''']]
| style="background:silver;" |[[2007 Vattenfall Cyclassics|'''2''']]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Paris–Tours]]
| [[1998 Paris–Tours|11]]
| —
| [[2000 Paris–Tours|44]]
| style="background:silver;" |[[2001 Paris–Tours|'''2''']]
| [[2002 Paris–Tours|11]]
| [[2003 Paris–Tours|42]]
| style="background:#C9AE5D;"|[[2004 Paris–Tours|'''3''']]
| —
| —
| style="background:silver;" |[[2007 Paris–Tours|'''2''']]
| [[2008 Paris–Tours|18]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2009 Paris–Tours|5]]
| style="background:gold;"   |[[2010 Paris–Tours|'''1''']]
| [[2011 Paris–Tours|20]]
| —
|}

===Major championships results timeline===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
!
! scope="col" | 1998
! scope="col" | 1999
! scope="col" | 2000
! scope="col" | 2001
! scope="col" | 2002
! scope="col" | 2003
! scope="col" | 2004
! scope="col" | 2005
! scope="col" | 2006
! scope="col" | 2007
! scope="col" | 2008
! scope="col" | 2009
! scope="col" | 2010
! scope="col" | 2011
! scope="col" | 2012
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | {{cjersey|rainbow}} [[UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|World Championships]]
| [[1998 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|17]]
| style="background:gold;"   |[[1999 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|'''1''']]
| style="background:#C9AE5D;"|[[2000 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|'''3''']]
| style="background:gold;"   |[[2001 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|'''1''']]
| [[2002 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|156]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2003 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|9]]
| style="background:gold;"   |[[2004 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|'''1''']]
| —
| —
| [[2007 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|14]]
| [[2008 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|38]]
| [[2009 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|15]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2010 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|6]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2011 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|9]]
| style="background:#ddf;"   |[[2012 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|10]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | {{cjersey|spain}} [[Spanish National Road Race Championships|National Championships]]
| style="background:#C9AE5D;"|'''3'''
| —
| —
| —
| 62
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Legend
|-
! scope="row" | —
| Did not compete
|-
! scope="row" | [[Did not finish|DNF]]
| Did not finish
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*[http://www.oscarfreire.es/ Official Site] {{in lang|es}}
*[http://www.katushateam.com/2012/eng/main.php?mod=scAtleti&id=FREIRE Profile on Katusha website] {{in lang|en}}
*{{Cycling Archives|5344}}
*[http://www.cyclingbase.com/palcoureurs.php?id=304&idtitle=1 Oscar Freire's Profile on Cycling Base]

{{UCI Road World Champions – Men's road race}}
{{Tour de France points classification winners}}
{{Milan–San Remo winners}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Freire, Oscar}}
[[Category:Cyclists from Cantabria]]
[[Category:Cyclists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Cyclists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Cyclists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic cyclists for Spain]]
[[Category:Spanish male cyclists]]
[[Category:Spanish Tour de France stage winners]]
[[Category:UCI Road World Champions (elite men)]]
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Torrelavega]]
[[Category:Spanish Vuelta a España stage winners]]
[[Category:Tour de Suisse stage winners]]
[[Category:Tetuán Walk of Fame]]