Oscar Sevilla (Medellin-Inter) hoped to climb onto the top step of the general classification podium at the Vuelta a San Juan Friday on the Alto Colorado, but 24-year-old Argentinean champion Gonzalo Najar (S.E.P. de San Juan) upset Sevilla's plans by soloing away from the lead group with 20km to go. Najar took the stage 5 win by 1:58 over his considerably more experienced rival.
Now second overall, Sevilla lies 1:02 behind Najar and 20 seconds ahead of overnight leader Filippo Ganna (UAE Team Emirates). The podium is a distinct possibility for the Spaniard, who has been racing in South America since being effectively blacklisted from the European peloton following his involvement in the Operacion Puerto blood doping scheme.
"It was a very fast stage," Sevilla said in the post-race press conference. "The first kilometres were very difficult because we had to keep paying attention to the wind. We knew during the race there could be echelons. And then in the last 30km, the race was broken."
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Once the day's breakaway was caught and the peloton hit heavier cross-tailwinds as they closed in on the mountains, havoc ensued and Najar's team put their masterful plan into action.
First, the team's Juan Pablo Dotti launched an attack, but that was quickly brought back. Najar, along with teammate Jose Rodriguez, soon jumped again. The duo rode together for a short time before Rodriguez dropped back, launching Najar on his solo ride. Sevilla's team and the others in the remaining lead group were caught off-guard.
"We were paying attention to Filippo Ganna and Rafal Majka because we thought they were the strongest riders," Sevilla said.
And the beat goes on
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