Stage 1- The 94 Km. circuit race with some variable terrain and gusty winds to made it for a difficult day in the saddle for the rides. The race went around the course 9 times. But it was after the 7th lap that the race broke apart into echelons due to the tough winds. iomega-Orbea rider Esteban Jukich was in the first echelon among the local favorites. At the end of lap 7 bad luck had Esteban run over a pothole and had two flats and had to wait for the neutral support car. Esteban finished 8 minutes down on the stage winner Ricardo Mascarenas.

Stage 2- 12.5 Km Individual Time Trial- Esteban bounced back woth a solid ride in the TT finishing 19th 1:45 down from stage winner Matias Medici. "I felt pretty good. This was my first TT back home in Uruguay and a real test. To be 1:45 back from the winner shows I am improving."

Stage 3- 154 Km. rolling and hilly terrain. iomega-Orbea rider Esteban broke away after the 3rd Km with 7 other riders. They quickly gained a 2 minute lead and held that gap and stayed away for approx. 120Km. In the breakaway Jukich used his punchy sprint to take the first two Sprint point competition sprints and clinched the overall Sprinter prize. The breakaway got caught with 30Km remaining to the finish and just after one of Uruguay's notable climbs "El Ramallo" with grades up to 11%. After being caught Esteban finished in the peloton and 26th overall after the bad start.

Esteban was very happy to show his iomega-Orbea colors up front in the season's toughest race thus far and claim the Sprinter Competition.

His next goal is a good showing in a few weeks in Eastern Uruguay at the hilly stage race from Trenta y Tres to Melo.

Stay tuned for more race reports and coverage from Esteban and the events in his native Uruguay.