Credits: epa03263514 Spain’s Oscar Freire signs autographs prior to the 5th stage, a 192.7 km race from Trimbach/Olten to Gansingen, at the 76th Tour de Suisse cycling race, in Trimbach, Switzerland, 13 June 2012. EPA/PETER KLAUNZER

Credits: epa03068546 Spain’s Oscar Freire, from team Katusha of Russia, celebrates after finishing in first place during the fourth stage of the Tour Down Under, Norwood to Tanunda, South Australia, 20 January 2012. EPA/BEN MACMAHON AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Credits: epa03068396 Spain’s Oscar Freire, from team Katusha of Russia, finishes in first place during the fourth stage of the Tour Down Under, Norwood to Tanunda, South Australia, 20 January 2012. EPA/BEN MACMAHON AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Credits: epa03064838 Spain’s Oscar Freire, from team Katusha of Russia, is interviewed by a race commentator at the start of stage two of the Tour Down Under in the suburb of Stirling, Australia, 18 January 2012. EPA/BEN MACMAHON AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Credits: epa03064773 Spain’s Oscar Freire, from team Katusha of Russia, signs on at the start of stage two of the Tour Down Under in the suburb of Stirling, Australia, 18 January 2012. EPA/BEN MACMAHON AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Credits: epa03063270 Spanish rider Oscar Freire of Russia’s Team Katusha in preparation before stage one of the Tour Down Under in the suburb of Prospect, Adelaide, South Australia, 17 January 2012. EPA/BEN MACMAHON AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Credits: epa02599808 Dutch Rabobank’s Spanish sprinter Oscar Freire (c) is greeted by hostesses on the podium after winning the fourth and last stage of the 2011 Tour of Andalusia, run between Cordoba and Antequera, Malaga, Southern Spain, 24 February 2011. Radio Shack’s Spanish cyclist Markel Irizar wins the overall classification. EPA/DANIEL PEREZ

Credits: epa02598000 Rabobank team rider Oscar Freire (C) of Spain celebrates on the podium his victory in the fourth stage of the Tour of Andalucia cycling race between Jaen and Cordoba, southern Spain, on 23 February 2011. EPA/SALAS

Credits: epa03298070 Spanish rider Oscar Freire of the Katusha Team in action during the 6th stage of the Tour de France 2012 cycling race between Epernay and Metz, France, 06 July 2012. EPA/YORICK JANSENS BELGIUM OUT