Commerce Bank Triple Crown Reading, PA: Sevilla Climbs Away From the Competition

Oscar Sevilla used his superior climbing skills and recent good form at the Tour of Columbia to ride away from a quality field and take a great win in the second leg of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling. It was a surprise win for the Spaniard, but not to his teammates, who decided before the race to protect the sprightly Spaniard in hopes that he would be able to deliver a special result.

Sevilla was on the attack early on, and although teammate Tyler Hamilton said he expected that "El Nino" would wait a bit longer to make his move, he still thought Sevilla was the best of the Rock Racing riders before the race. "Oscar is our guy today if a break goes away. He is going really fast after the Tour of Columbia. He is a good climber too, so he'll be our guy today," Hamilton said at the sign in stage before the race.

As the race turned onto the major climb of the race for the first time, Sevilla wasted no time and went off the front in search of the KOM points. He was first over the top for the first lap and second on the next lap, which ensured he would at least be the KOM winner for the day. As the race went up the climb for the final time, the Spaniard launched a vicious attack which unhitched everyone in the field. The High Road youngster Edvald Boassen Hagen gave chase, but was unable to close down the gaop in time for the finish. The 21 year old finished a respectable second, and provided a glimpse of cycling's future in taking second place. Teammmate Bernhard Eisel brought the field home, showing he is riding well ahead of Philly.

With two legs down in the Triple Crown, the attention now shifts to the final race in Philadelphia. Temperatures are expected to be in the 90's and humid, which will again favor the warm weather riders. Sevilla will have an even bigger hill by which to use for an attack, the Manayunk Wall, but if the spinters have their way, the race will finish in a bunch gallop. Eisel and others, including the Italian Daniele Bennati, will be on hand to do battle in the City of Brotherly Love, to the delight of all American cycling fans.