The 3.8 miles (6.1 kilometres) long time trial was won
by the Spanish climber although Sevilla had a shifting problem with his rear derailleur. The mechanical problem forced the
Rock Racing rider to get off his bike and remount his chain in the final half-mile of the uphill Glendora Chevrolet Mountain
Time Trial.
Peter Stetina (VMG-Felt-RGM) came in seconds, eight seconds
behind stage winner Sevilla and third-place finisher Ben Day (Toyota-United Pro Cycling) lost 16 seconds on Sevilla’s
winning time of 13 minutes and five seconds.
"He lost at least 35 seconds – or even more by having
to stop," Rock Racing's team owner Michael Ball said. "To have him pull off this victory today is very gratifying. Our original
track was to see Oscar at the top of the GC at any given race, especially domestically. So we’re back on track."
Sevilla was one of three Rock Racing riders excluded by race organizers from competing
at the Amgen Tour of California last month. The former T-Mobile and Relax-GAM rider scored his first victory since winning
last years edition of the Route de Sud and is allegedly involved in the Fuentes doping scandal, however the 31 year old was
cleared by the Spanish Cycling Federation after investigating judge Antonio Serrano of the court of Madrid ruled that the
Spanish Cycling Federation was not allowed to use court documents in sports disciplinary proceedings.
"I was very nervous before the start, but I was motivated to do well today," Sevilla
said. "I haven’t been able to race in so long that I had a lot of butterflies."
Sevilla just came from his home country and said his biggest concern was jet lag
following a 10-hour flight from Madrid to Los Angeles.
"Last week I was feeling pretty good but with all the traveling, I didn’t know
if I would have my racing legs today," Sevilla said.
Rock Racing's sports director Mariano Friedick is now a familiar position –
having to help defend the race lead. In 2006, he was racing in San Dimas in support of former Toyota-United teammate Heath
Blackgrove, who won the race overall.
"I know exactly what this race is like and I have complete faith in these guys,"
Friedick said.
Toyota-United's Ben Day came in third. "There is a huge mix of talent and understanding of racing in San Dimas this weekend, and we will try and figure it
out over the next two days and respond to the race conditions," said Toyota – Uniteds sports director Len Pettyjohn.
The race continues today with the 2nd stage: the San Dimas Hospital
Road Race.
