That's my dream. Hopefully my climbers will start scoring soon to
in the longer less-contested stageraces. I think my squad has possibility of ending any pretty much anywhere. Just hope I don't
end in this 6th place, that would annoy the s*** out of me.
The wait for the important race of the season is finally our, at least for our part. The competition was high, the expectations was even higher, luckily our boys did what they're expected to do - deliver when it counts.
Rojas Villegas finished in a strong 4th place behind the likes of David Arroyo, Daniel Moreno and Francisco Colorado. Co-Captain Deiber Esquivel didn't dissapoint either, finishing in a strong 7th place.
The rumours has it this amazing performance by the team on their home field has attracted another big ex-cycling team sponsor back in the game - can you guess who?
Deiber attacks when they last few escapees is about to get caught
And he is the strongest! Wins by almost a minute lead
Winning in style! Secures the vistory on the last day
Jelajah Malaysia is a race which could go both ways really. Luckily it seemed as luck + a tactical mastermind was on our side.
We headet into the 6 day race with two leaders + a sprinter but already from day 2 and onwards it was pretty clear who we were going to work for. Namely Deiber Esquivel.
The first stage of the tour was mostly flat and endet in a mass sprint were our boys didn't do much - Guillen ending in a dissapointing sixth.
But already next day our luck seemed to change, it was set for hard mountain stage with ending in crucial 26 km downhill section.
Our two strongest was among the absloute top favourites pre-stage but unlike most others they just played cold the whole climb without launching a single attack. Over the top it seemed like all the attackers were going to get caught and so they did a few kms later but just about when the last break-away rider was being caught, Deiber Esquivel launches one attack - and a powerful one aswell! Nobody was able to follow him and he quickly
gains a gap around 30 seconds.
When the 15km sign came he had a lead of 36s and it was still increasing. Deiber wins the stage with almost a minute down to rest and puts himself in a comfortable lead on the GC aswell. Probably his biggest threat in the race - Daniel Moreno sprints in to second.
For the next stages our team controlled the race brilliantly, even Rojas Villegas went into the domestique role for Deiber, nobody came even one second closer to Deiber on the GC-table on those
stages!
It all seemed to come down to the finale stage - a crucial mountain featuring two insanely steep climbs in the finale of the stage.
We decidet to take no chances and controlled the pack from kilometer 1. After numorous attemps from Moreno and the other competitors, Deiber seemed safe when it's was all brought back together at 5k to go mark.
The group consisted now of 26 riders and it seemed to come to a final sprint dash between the favourites. As Deiber alrady secured the jersey he
just followed second placed overall, Dani Moreno for the final sprint.
Even after all his tries to shake off Deiber he seemed to have enough power to make a final sprint for the stage victory - but in
the last meters Deiber found some extra powers to accelarate over the final 50 meters and overtake Dani Moreno and take the stage vicotry aswell!
I will quote the race organizer on this quote
``What a truly deserving winner!``
South American?
