One To Go For Rock Racing’s Sevilla At Vuelta a Chihuahua

October 10th, 2009 by Ron Callahan View Comments

Only Saturday’s 72-mile (118 km) stage at the Vuelta a Chihuahua stands in the way of Oscar Sevilla delivering a milestone victory for Rock Racing.

If the Spaniard maintains his overall lead, he will have scored Rock Racing’s third straight overall title at a stage race this year, adding to wins at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic in July and the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah in August.

“I’m feeling relaxed, with no pressure,” Sevilla said. “I have very talented teammates around me who know what to do to make sure I maintain my lead through to the end.”

Rock Racing protected Sevilla’s six-second advantage over Gregorio Ladino (Tecos Trek) on Friday’s Stage 5 by riding the front throughout the 88-mile (142 km) race from Parral to Camargo. A breakaway group of seven riders was reeled in three miles from the finish and César Vaquera (Orven) won the field sprint.

To date, Rock Racing has won 33 races, including the overall at Cascade by Sevilla in July and Francisco Mancebo’s victory in Utah in August. Mancebo registered his fifth top 10 placing at the Vuelta a Chihuahua Friday with sixth place in the sprint.

Besides working for Sevilla, Rock Racing’s David Vitoria will be looking to hold onto the sprint classification jersey he earned on Stage 2 of the six-day race. There are two sprints and one categorized climb on Saturday’s final stage.