Matt Opperman's Body and Bicycle Found in Siles, Andalucía.

Sad ending for the search of Matt Opperman that went missing on January 25th. Official sources confirmed to "Diario JAÉN" the discovery of a body and a bicycle in the area of ​​the old seminary of Siles (later converted into the Junta's leisure residence, now closed). The Civil Guard specifies that the discovery took place in an area known as the Calarejo Chico area.

There is already official confirmation that it is the body of Matt Opperman, the American cyclist and bicycle mechanic who had been missing for more than three weeks. The autopsy will determine the causes of the disease, although, in principle, everything points to an accident.

Andrés Tapia, president of the Spain DH cycling club:

"We knew he couldn’t have survived, but we weren’t going to stop searching until we found him,"

The Civil Guard launched a land and air search operation on February 5, after learning of Opperman’s disappearance. He had traveled to spend a few days at a rural house in the mountainous area.

Since then, Spain DH, the sports club Opperman had belonged to for years, mobilized dozens of friends and hundreds of volunteers, many of whom were familiar with the terrain and trained in rescue operations. They had even created a map of the routes he typically cycled in the mountains.

"We have to thank everyone who has helped us in this effort to find him," Tapia added, highlighting the support they received from specialized canine rescue units from Olula del Río (Almería) and several off-duty forest firefighters who joined the search efforts.

Opperman, 50, was born in the state of Colorado but had been living in the Churriana district of Málaga for many years. He worked as a professional mechanic, and those who knew him emphasized his deep passion for sports, particularly cycling and hiking.

According to his friends, he was always one of the most active cyclists in Spain DH. "He was a friendly, fun-loving, athletic, and health-conscious guy… He loved doing sports in a group. Even though he didn’t speak much Spanish, he was always up for anything," Tapia added.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Matt Opperman. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.

Ride in Peace Matt.