Colombia played a key role in today's stage of the Tour du Limousin. Having missed the inital break, the team tried to send Juan Pablo Valencia across to the group bu ended the stage empty-handed.

Juan Pablo Valencia was the best Team Colombia rider in Tour du Limousin 2nd stage, Trelissac-Grezes (171,8 km), finishing 23rd on a tough uphill drag, 15 seconds behind Europcar’s Cyril Gautier. The Frenchman managed to see off Davide Rebellin (CCC-Polsat) and Rein Taaramae (Cofidis). Race leader Bjorn Leukemans (Wanty-Gobert) finished eight, safely holding on his GC spot.

The group came back together in the finale after several breakaway attempts in the first part of the race: a 7-man moved started just after km 0, with Team Colombia taking charge of the chase along with Caja Rural. Juan Pablo Valencia eventually managed to join the leading group, but the peloton never left much space to the escapees, shutting up every action until the decisive, 1 km final climb.

“Valencia tried his best today, getting in the break and then in the finale," Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi said. "His condition is improving, and hopefully his efforts will be rewarded soon. Limousin is a very tough race, but both he and Leonardo Duque are looking good.”

Tomorrow another hard stage from Vassiviere to Le Maupuy will test the riders , with another uphill finish after 183 km.