47 year-old pro Oscar Sevilla has no plans to join the gran fondo circuit or race against amateurs for a world title like Alexandre Vinokourov, instead he is following in the footsteps of Davide Rebellin and continuing to race (and win) professionally.

25 years after turning pro, Sevilla (Medellin-EPM) won his 49th professional race at the Tour of Hainan in China in last weekend. After five stages, he claimed overall general classification victory by one second over Sebastian Berwick – who at 23 years-old was not even born when when Sevilla turned pro.

Sevilla’s career has had its ups and downs though. He finished in the Top 10 three times at the Vuelta a Espana (2001, 2002, 2005) and seventh at the 2001 Tour de France. However, in 2006 he was caught up in the Operacion Puerto doping investigation and subsequently fired by his T-Mobile team. He then dropped down to race for second and third tier pro teams, but was banned for using performance enhancing substances in 2010.

Then in 2011 at 35 years-old Sevilla reset his life, moved to Colombia, got married and started a second career with Colombian based pro teams – and is has never looked back.

On continuing to race at his age, he told CyclingUpToDate, “It is a privilege because being at my age competing is a great prize. I have the support of my family and we go day by day enjoying what I do.”

Photo: Tour of Hainan