For the second day in a row, Colombia went on the attack in the Tour du Limousin when sprinter Edwin Avila joined the early break. However, the team again left the race empty-handed.

Team Colombia’s Edwin Avila provided a strong performance in Tour du Limousin stage 3 (Lac de Lassiviere-Le Maupuy, 183,2 km), riding in a strong 8-man breakaway that stayed clear until the final kilometres of the stage. Mauro Finetto (Neri Sottoli) took the stage win and the leader’s jersey, beating to the line Julian Simon (Cofidis) and Davide Rebellin (CCC-Polsat), while Juan Pablo Valencia was once again the best of Valerio Tebaldi’s men on the finishing line, closing 17th, 37 seconds behind Finetto.

After a 12-man move had started early in the stage, Juan Esteban Arango and Edwin Avila managed to bridge back on it after nearly 30 km of another lumpy stage, whose finish was placed at the top of a 4 km ascent. The frantic pace reduced the leading group to only 8 men, with Avila proving capable to hold on the climbing pace of riders like Sylvain Chavanel (IAM), Kevin Reza (Europcar) and Stefano Pirazzi (Bardiani).

The 8-man action was reeled in into the final 10 km, but Sports Director Tebaldi praised Avila’s breakaway effort:

“Edwin’s recent performance did not mirror his quality nor live up to our expectations, but today he raced a very good stage, holding on with strong athletes while being attacked in several occasions. This shows his condition is finally coming, and good opportunities are up for him in the next few races: he will have to be prepared and ready to pursue good results.”

Tomorrow the Tour du Limousin will come to a close with the final stage, Meuzac-Limoges of 175 km.