Spaniards opt for cycling over football

SPANIARDS are throwing away their shinpads and splashing out on bikes instead.

Cycling is now the most practised sport in the country, while football is on the slide, according to a ministry of sport report.

While 39% of people said they had been cycling in the last year, just 22% said they had played football.

Wannabe Rafa Nadals aren’t hard to come by with 54% of people owning a tennis racket, although just 25% admitted to playing tennis in 2015.

Swimming is also on the rise (38% did last year), as is hiking (31%) and running (29%).