Event winner Francisco Mancebo (Relax-Gam) (Image credit: Monika Prell)
Spanish pro Francisco 'Paco' Mancebo (Relax-Gam) has won the overall classification of the Vuelta a Chihuahua in Mexico this week-end. The rider, who was dismissed by ProTour team Ag2R last year because of his presumed involvement in the Operación Puerto doping case just prior to the Tour de France, won his first stage race since 2003, ahead of Canadian Christian Meier (Symmetrics) and Mexican Antonio Aldape (Canels).
"I'm very happy for this win," said Mancebo, who will probably be part of the peloton next season, too. "I want to continue racing, but not at any price as I'm only 31 years old," he added to Spanish news outlet AS. "In any case, I have an agreement of principle to renew my contract with Relax."
The Spanish Pro Continental squad also includes Ángel Vicioso, Óscar Sevilla, Jan Hruska, Jesús Hernández and Santiago Pérez this season, who were also linked to the blood doping ring of Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes.
