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Personal information | |
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Full name | Julen Goikoetxea Garate |
Born | Ondarroa, Spain | 18 August 1985
Died | 6 October 2006 Ondarroa, Spain | (aged 21)
Julen Goikoetxea Garate (18 August 1985 – 6 October 2006) was a Basque racing 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.[1] UCI ProTour team Euskaltel–Euskadi acknowledged his talent and contracted him for the 2007 season.[2] 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.[2] As a result, he did not cycle any races since May 2006. On 6 October 2006 he committed suicide by jumping off his balcony.[2]