Julen Zubero, a 44-year-old cyclist and owner of the Ciclos Zubero shop in Bilbao, was seriously injured yesterday on a road in Zeberio when a car invaded his lane and struck him. The athlete had to be airlifted to Cruces hospital, where he was admitted with multiple traumas and serious fractures, particularly to the head, according to a spokesperson for the Basque Department of Security.
The incident occurred at 3:10 PM on the BI-3524 road. According to witnesses, Zubero was cycling downhill when an oncoming car lost control and entered the opposite lane, hitting the cyclist, who was thrown several meters.
Julen Zubero, whose family originates from Zeberio, runs Ciclos Zubero, the oldest bicycle shop in Bilbao and a benchmark for cyclists in Biscay. He is the son of the historic professional cyclist Luis Zubero, a former rider for the KAS team.
Julen Zubero himself was a professional cyclist between 2005 and 2007 with the Orbea team. He has also participated in numerous editions of the Titan Desert and in cyclocross world championships. He was recovering from a collarbone fracture sustained in April.
“"He always respects the rules. I usually see him when I arrive at work, waiting at the traffic light for it to turn green."
