A dad who went missing on a solo cycling trip last month has been found dead.
Matt Opperman’s body was found on Sunday (16 Feb) in a remote part of Siles, Spain.
Opperman, 50, was from the US but had been living in Spain for years.
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He set off on his electric mountain bike on 24 January and wasn’t seen or heard from again.
His black van was found where he began his bike ride in Segura de la Sierra.
The operation to find Opperman began on 6 February after his disappearance was reported to the authorities.
Hundreds of people and a police helicopter combed 86 square miles of heavily forested mountains.
On Sunday, volunteers found a body lying next to a bicycle and a tree in a rugged area.
The victim was confirmed as Opperman the next day (17 Feb) thanks to documents found on the body.
A post-mortem examination has been carried out but the cause of death has yet to be determined.
Authorities have ruled out any signs of violence and local media suggest he may have had an accident.
Opperman was a father of two and an experienced bicycle mechanic, as reported by Need To Know.
His friends at the Málaga-based cycling club SpainDh described him as a “strong cyclist and super fit”.
Opperman’s family is originally from Ohio and he had lived in Houston, Texas, and Longmont, Colorado.
He was the head mechanic for the Australian mountain bike team at the 2016 Rio Olympics, his brother Marc told Spanish media.
SpainDh wrote on social media: “Our friend Matt was passionate about cycling and the mountains.
“And we are sure he would be touched by the incredible outpouring of love and solidarity from everyone.
“His friendship, adventurous spirit, and energy will live on in every ride and every trail we explore.”
