Óscar Pereiro facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Óscar Pereiro

Pereiro in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Óscar Pereiro Sío
Born	(1977-08-03) 3 August 1977 (age 47) Mos, Galicia, Spain
Height	1.77 m
Weight	67 kg (148 lb; 10 st 8 lb)
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	All-rounder
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France General classification (2006) 1 individual stage (2005) Combativity award (2005)

Óscar Pereiro Sío (born 3 August 1977) is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer. He became famous for winning the 2006 Tour de France. This happened after the original winner, Floyd Landis, was disqualified. Pereiro rode for several teams during his career. After he stopped cycling in 2010, he started playing football for a local team.

Óscar Pereiro's Early Cycling Career

Óscar Pereiro showed great talent early in his cycling journey. In the 2004 Tour de France, he finished in tenth place. This was a strong result for him.

Winning the Most Aggressive Rider Award

In the 2005 Tour de France, Pereiro earned the Most Aggressive Rider Award. This award goes to the cyclist who shows the most fighting spirit. He was part of the leading groups in several stages. He even won Stage 16, beating other strong riders. His efforts in Stage 15, which was very tough, were admired by everyone.

Winning the 2006 Tour de France

The 2006 Tour de France was a very important race for Óscar Pereiro. In Stage 13, he made a big breakaway. This move helped him gain almost 30 minutes on the other top riders. It put him unexpectedly into the yellow jersey, which is worn by the overall leader.

Becoming the Champion

Pereiro and Floyd Landis traded the yellow jersey back and forth for a few days. Landis eventually took the lead for good near the end of the Tour. However, after the race, Landis was disqualified. This meant that Óscar Pereiro became the official winner of the 2006 Tour de France. Pereiro said he felt like the champion and that it was a victory for his whole team.

Pereiro's Health and Racing

Pereiro at the 2007 Tour de Romandie

In 2007, there was an investigation about a substance found in Pereiro's samples from the 2006 Tour. This substance, called salbutamol, is used to treat asthma. Cyclists can use it if they have a medical reason. Pereiro provided enough medical proof for its use. The French anti-doping agency then closed its investigation.

Crash in the 2008 Tour de France

Pereiro's yellow jersey from the 2006 Tour de France

During the 2008 Tour de France, Pereiro had a serious crash. He fell over a guardrail during a downhill section. He broke his arm but stayed conscious. This crash unfortunately ended his race that year.

Óscar Pereiro's Football Career

After retiring from professional cycling in 2010, Óscar Pereiro decided to try a new sport. He announced that he signed with a football club called Coruxo FC. He said that becoming a professional footballer was a dream he had since he was a child. He played as a winger for the team. He made two appearances and scored two goals in that season.

Major Cycling Achievements

Road Racing Highlights

Grand Tour Results Timeline

This table shows Óscar Pereiro's results in the biggest cycling races, called Grand Tours.

Grand Tour	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Giro d'Italia	—	—	11	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tour de France	—	—	—	—	10	10	1	10	DNF	DNF	—
/ Vuelta a España	—	—	30	17	—	26	49	DNF	—	—	—

Cyclo-cross Achievements

Óscar Pereiro also competed in cyclo-cross, which is a type of bicycle racing that involves riding on various terrains.

• 1998–1999
  • 1st National Under-23 Championships
• 1999–2000
  • 1st National Under-23 Championships

See also

In Spanish: Óscar Pereiro para niños