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Cycling legend Oscar Freire MISSING without trace as police launch desperate search to find him

POLICE are searching for three-times World Champion road racing cyclist Oscar Freire after his family reported him missing.

Relatives alerted the Spanish Civil Guard this morning after the 48-year-old vanished without trace.

Close-up of a cyclist in a Garmin-Slipstream jersey.
AFP
A major search is on for Spanish sporting ace Oscar Freire[/caption]
Oscar Freire, Rabobank cyclist, celebrating a victory.
Reuters
Freire won the world title in 1999, 2001 and 2004[/caption]

He is said to have left belongings including keys and credit cards at his home in Torrelavega, the town in Spain’s northern region of Cantabria where he was born.

A local paper is reporting his car has been found but the cyclist’s whereabouts remains a mystery.

He is understood to have been last seen at least 24 hours before he was reported missing.

Now police are investigating Freire’s whereabouts.

The former professional was one of the top sprinters in bicycle road racing.

He was active in the sport between 1997 and 2012.

He won the World Championship race a record-equalling three times in 1999, 2001 and 2004.

That matches the achievement of Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen, and Eddy Merckx.

Freire’s weakness at climbing at the top level has hurt him in the grand tours.

But he did win the points classification at the 2008 Tour de France, and won four Tour stages through 2010.

Mark Cavendish grimacing while sprinting to win a Tour de France cycling race.
AP:Associated Press
British legend Mark Cavendish, leading in blue, was a long-time sporting rival of Oscar Freire, behind left, in the green jersey[/caption]

He has also won seven stages at Spain’s La Vuelta which is another of the leading cycle races in the international calendar.

Britain’s Mark Cavendish and Freire were rivals in many races.

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