Óscar Freire started his career in the sport of professional in 1998 when he signed his first professional racing contract with Vitalicio Seguros. In 1999 while racing with the team Óscar won his first World Championship title, it was his major win of the season after struggling to get good results. After spending one season with Vitalicio Seguros the Spaniard signed a contract with Mapei-Quick Step, where he raced at until 2002. While at Mapei-Quick Step Freire claimed 2 stages of the Vuelta a Espana, 1 stage of the Tour de France and his second World Road Race Champion title. In 2003, Freire joined Team Rabobank, where he spent a total of nine years as a professional cyclist before signing with Team Katusha at the beginning of 2012.
While at Rabobank, Freire claimed many prestigious results such as four stages of the Vuelta a Espana, 3 stages as well as a Overall Points Classification at the Tour de France, three wins Milan-San Remo and yet another World Championship title win. After 2011, where he only claimed two victories, Óscar left Team Rabobank and signed for Team Katusha for the 2012 racing season.
With his new team, Freire has had a good start to the 2012 racing season. He has won a stage at both the Tour Down Under and the Vuelta a Andalucia. He placed 2nd at E3 Harelbeke behind Belgian Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep). At the 2012 Amstel Gold Race, he gave it full power to take the win with a solo attack in the final ten kilometers, however he was caught just meters from the line and finished 4th in the end.
The 36 year old Spaniard is aiming at a four World Championship Title in 2012, but also has claimed that he will take in the the 2012 Tour de France as well as the 2012 Olympic Games this season. Freire has stated that this will be his last season most likely, but if he wins the 2012 World Championships then he could decide to race for yet another year in the World Championships colors.
Luke Allingham- Hi Óscar, how are you doing? How is the 2012 racing season going for you so far with Team Katusha?
I think very well: I managed to win some races and stages, so it was my best start since some years. I also entered many times on the podium in some important competitions, where I didn’t win for a mere nothing. Anyways, I’m very satisfied.
Luke Allingham- Do you have any advice to give to a young amateur cyclist who wants to become a professional sometime in their life?
My only advice is to be very determined, not giving up at the first difficulties: cycling is a real hard sport, but it gives you many joys, but you need to train everyday and be careful to many things like foods.
Luke Allingham- Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy doing while not racing or training?
I love to listen to all kind of music, I have many cd’s at my place. Moreover, I like to play tennis with my friends.
Luke Allingham- You had quite an impressive solo attack for about 6 or 7 kilometers at Amstel Gold Race this year, but unfortunately you were caught in the final meters. Tell us about your solo attack and what your thoughts were during your solo breakaway. Are you happy with your Amstel Gold Race this year after you finished 4th in the sprint?
I’m happy because I did all I could in order to win that competition, and I think all cycling fans loved my attack. In the beginning I was only thinking to gain as many seconds as I could because I knew in the last uphill I could lose something. Then, when I didn’t see the chase coming in the last kilometer, I started to believe I was very close to win: if only the route was 50 meters less!
Luke Allingham- As mentioned in the previous question: You have won a total of three world championships during your career, what are your feelings and or thoughts about winning these three World Championships?
As I said before all three wins were specials and gave me a great joy. For one year you’re the best rider of the World, everybody can notice it by your jersey: it’s a very nice feeling.
Luke Allingham- You have also won three Milan-San Remo's during your career. Tell us about those wins and what it feels like to win at one of the best known cycling Monuments.
Milan-Sanremo is my favourite Monument Classic race. Despite many times a sprinter wins this competition it has a very demanding route: it’s the longest one, and when you reach the final straight for the rush your energies has almost gone. When you win this race you enter between the best riders ever: the fact that I won it three times, just like legends such as Fausto Coppi and Roger De Vlaeminck, gives me a great happiness about my career. That’s why it’s so great to win this important competitions: you’re between the legends of this sport.
Luke Allingham- During the off season you signed a new team contract with Team Katusha after racing with Team Rabobank for about 8 years. What made you decide to move from Team Rabobank to Team Katusha after so many years with Rabobank? Are you enjoying your season so far with Team Katusha?
When you’re almost at the end of your career, you start to seek new motivations and incentives in order to decide if to continue or not. Katusha Team gave me this chance and, until now, everything was great: as I said before I had a very good start here, now I’m getting ready for the second part of the season when I’ll take part to Tour de France and, in the end, World Championships. If I’ll manage to win it, as I said many times, I can decide to continue one more year with this jersey in Katusha.
Luke Allingham- You have talked about retiring at the end of 2012 before, is this still the plan or are there chances that we may see you racing in the peloton during 2013?
As I said before, most probably it will be my last year: but if I’m going to win the World Championships, maybe I could change my mind..
Luke Allingham- You have already had some good results this 2012 season such as a stage win at the Tour Down Under and Vuelta a Andalucia and a top ten finish at Milan-San Remo, what will be some of your major goals going into the rest of the season?
I’ll take part to Tour de France, so I’ll like to take some stage wins. But in fact I’m getting ready for World Championships and, why not, Olympic Games.
Follow Team Katusha and Óscar on the team Twitter, Facebook or website
Celebrating our tenth year!
Help
Support the Daily Peloton
| 
