Óscar Sevilla follows Mancebo’s lead and commits to racing into his fifties

Sevilla announced the news in a video released by his team, Medellin EPM. 

"I have thought about this a lot with my family and my loved ones" he said. "I will continue racing next year for this great team to carry the name of Medellin around the world. With the same passion, the same motivation and the same professionalism as always. We will see each other in the races in 2026. Here is to another year."

His decision adds a new chapter to a career that started in 1998 when he joined Kelme - Costa Blanca and quickly became one of the strongest climbers in the peloton. He finished second in the 2001 Vuelta a España and seventh in the Tour de France that same season, winning the white jersey as the best young rider.

Sevilla’s trajectory changed dramatically in 2006 when he was suspended for his involvement in the Spanish doping case Operación Puerto. He returned to competition afterwards, but no longer received offers from leading teams and instead began a long journey through smaller squads across the world. 

That journey became relatively successful. Even in 2025, he continued to collect national-level victories and held his own in UCI races with podiums in the Tour de Beauce and a top ten in the Tour of Hainan.

His choice to keep racing comes days after 49-year-old Francisco Mancebo confirmed that he will do the same, continuing to race into his fifties after signing with Pingtan International Tourism Island Cycling Team for 2026. The two Spaniards share a long, intertwined history. They raced together at Relax and Rock Racing in the years after Operación Puerto and both rebuilt their careers far from the European WorldTour.