With rosters loaded with climbers and riders coming out of the Giro d'Italia in good condition, Colombia were hoping to be in the spotlight in the queen stages of the Route du Sud and the Tour de Slovenie. However, it ended as a bad day for the Colombian team which was far off the mark in both races.

Team Colombia’s Rodolfo Torres showed his gutty approach in Route du Sud’s queen stage Bagneres-de-Bigorre – Val Louron (178,6 km), holding on with the strongest until a few kilometres form  the finish where Irishman Nicolas Roche(Tinkoff-Saxo) took the stage with a 40 second gap to his closest rivals. Roche is also the new GC leader, becoming a huge favorite for the overall win at the end of the final stage.

Torres got to the finish in 19th position, 2.26 behind the winner, followed by Team Colombia’s teammates Miguel Angel Rubiano (21st), who had previously tried an attack on the early slopes of the final climb, and Edward Diaz (27th), on a day in which the peloton faced both the mythical ascents to the Col d’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet.

Previously, Carlos Julian Quintero had been among the day’s 10 attackers, whose action was reeled in ahead of the final 10 km ascent.

“Torres, Diaz and Rubiano were in the top group chasing Roche until 3 km to go on another very tough and hot day," said Sports Director Oliverio Rincon afterwards. "Torres lost some terrain in the final kilometer after losing contact with a 6-man group, but gave another proof of his climbing prowess and determination.”

It was a day to forget quickly at the Tour de Slovenie, where Jarlinson Pantano, Robinson Chalapud and Fabio Duarte faded before the stage from Rogaska Slatina to Trije Kralji got to its decisive phase. Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Bardiani) was the strongest on the day, ahead of new GC leader Tiago Machado (NetApp). Juan Pablo Valencia was the best on the day for Team Colombia, 27th at 5.40.

“We can’t help being disappointed today, as we expected much more from our leaders," Sports Director Oscar Pellicioli reported. “Pantano suffered from cramps, and Chalapud had a bad day as well. It was a good opportunity for us, and we are disappointed not to have exploited it.”

“The Sports Directors and I expected the riders who came off the Giro to make the best of their post-GT condition, to pursue results with much more determination, and we are obviously disappointed with that," General Manager Claudio Corti continued.

Meanwhile, good news came from the Tour de Suisse, where former Team Colombia rider Esteban Chaves celebrated a big stage win:

“I wish to congratulate Esteban for this great win and the results he is getting," Corti said. "They reward him for his consistency and huge determination in his physical recovery, and his approach of always pursuing results any time he has the chance to go for them. We are very proud of him.”