Oscar Freire First Spaniard Ever to Win Gent-Wevelgem

Freire has held up his end for his sponsor Rabobank, despite intermittent health problems

Oscar Freire added to his already lustrous palmares with a win yesterday at the Belgian semi-classic Gent-Wevelgem. He also became the first Spaniard ever to win the event, after having come close in previous editions. At 32, Freire has several good years left, and each year he seems to improve as a better overall rider. Once thought of only as a sprinter, Freire now is looked at as a more capable rider who is able to contend even in hillier races.

Freire's next big target, according to the star himself, will be the Amstel Gold classic in the Netherlands. A hilly, twisting affair, the Amstel Gold race is not the kind of contest that a pure sprinter can win. One will never see names like Petacchi, McEwen, Cavendish, or Boonen at the top of the Amstel classification, but the name Oscar Freire could very well appear in the top five, providing that the circumstances are right.

Freire enjoying a win in the rainbow jersey in 2001

Friere's only problem over the course of his career has been the fact that he is a bit fragile. Over the years, he has suffered from various ailments, but when healthy, "The Cat" is lethal in almost any race he enters. A three time world champion, Freire has made clear his intention to try for a fourth title in Varese this September, despite the challenging parcours. Don't expect to see a win in Italy for the three-time champ though, as the course will be too hard for Freire, even if he is on form.