Julen Goikoetxea
Encyclopedia
Julen Goikoetxea was a Basque
cyclist
from Ondarroa
.
Goikoetxea started his international career in 2004 as a member of the Alfus Tedes Garbialdi team. In his first two seasons he won five races. UCI ProTour
team Euskaltel-Euskadi
acknowledged his talent and contracted him for the 2007 season. Despite his success as a cyclist, he began to suffer from depression
. He tried to kill himself several times before doctors took care of his health. As a result he did not cycle any races since May 2006. On 7 October 2006 he committed suicide
by jumping off his balcony.
2004
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
cyclist
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
from Ondarroa
Ondarroa
Ondarroa is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-Main sights:*Church of St. Mary, in late Gothic style *Likona Tower, a typical Basque tower-house....
.
Goikoetxea started his international career in 2004 as a member of the Alfus Tedes Garbialdi team. In his first two seasons he won five races. UCI ProTour
UCI ProTour
The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...
team Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi is a professional road bicycle racing team from Spain. The team is commercially sponsored, but also works as an unofficial Basque national team and is partly funded by the Basque Government. Its riders are either from Basque Country, or at least have grown up in the cycling...
acknowledged his talent and contracted him for the 2007 season. Despite his success as a cyclist, he began to suffer from depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
. He tried to kill himself several times before doctors took care of his health. As a result he did not cycle any races since May 2006. On 7 October 2006 he committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by jumping off his balcony.
Achievements
2005- 1st in Ereño
- 1st in Antzuola
- 1st in Elgoibar
- 1st in Zegama
2004
- 1st in Bergara