Veteran Óscar Sevilla robbed at gunpoint while training in Bogotá

Sevilla, who turns 50 in two weeks and last raced at the Tour of Binzhou (1.1) in China on September 9, said the incident happened on Monday morning during his training ride. In a social media statement, he explained how he was robbed at gunpoint and his phone was stolen.

“Today, 8:20 a.m., I went out to train and on the Highway with 170th Street I was intercepted by a big motorcycle. They threatened me with a firearm. They couldn't steal my bicycle, but they did take my cell phone,” said Sevilla. 

He explained that despite having contact with the police, there was nothing that the authorities could do about the incident.

“A patrol car passed by, I reported the incident and they told me they couldn't do anything,” he added. 

Team Medellín EPM confirmed in a statement that Sevilla had been targeted while out training, adding that he was unharmed and condemning the incident.

“One of our riders was the victim of a robbery this morning while heading out to train on the Autopista con 170 in Bogotá,” read Team Medellín EPM’s statement. “Two armed men on a motorcycle threatened him and took his cell phone. Fortunately, Óscar is safe.”

“Team Medellín EPM condemns these incidents, which affect not only Óscar but the entire community.”

Sevilla has raced for Medellín EPM since its inception in 2017, and during that time has ridden alongside the likes of Miguel Ángel López and Harold Tejada (XDS Astana).

This season, Sevilla competed in the Spanish road race championships and finished 63rd, 11:23 behind winner Marcel Camprubí (Pinarello-Q36.5).

During the peak of his career, Sevilla won the youth classification at the Tour de France in 2001 and finished second at the Vuelta a España two months later. He would go on to finish fourth in 2002 and seventh in 2005 at the Spanish Grand Tour. 

The Spaniard was linked to the 2006 Operación Puerto doping investigation on the day before the Tour de France and was not allowed to start the race, eventually leaving cycling’s top tier. 

This latest training incident is not the first time that Sevilla has been targeted while training in Bogotá. In 2018, he was attacked by a group of thieves who stole his bike and left him with a broken wrist requiring surgery.