Team Colombia-Coldeportes leave the Route du Sud with another podium placement: after concluding the Tour du Luxembourg grazing success in the final stage, Leonardo Duque came close to the big goal once again in the final effort of the French race, Revel-Gaillac (166 km). Favorite Bryan Coquard (Europcar) did not disappoint, edging a hectic sprint ahead of another Frenchman, Lorenzo Manzin (FDJ), and Duque himself. Edwin Avila was 12th on the finishing line, with Miguel Angel Rubiano in 16th.

Duque’s sprint was the final highlight of the four days, concluded with two very valuable results in the bag: Miguel Angel Rubiano was sixth in the overall standings, 1.31 behind winner Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), and Daniel Martinez – the youngest rider in the Pro Continental ranks – was crowned king of the mountains (7th such title for the team in 2015) at age 19, collecting the first major satisfaction of his very early career. 

Before Duque, Fabio Duarte had given his go for the stage win, taking part in the 10-man break started early in the race. Duarte, Matteo Montaguti (AG2R La Mondiale), Francis Mourey (FDJ), Christian Mager (Cult Energy), Mikel Bizkarra (Murias), Romain Hardy (Cofidis), Pierrick Fedrigo (Bretagne-Séché), Julien El Fares (Team Marseille 13-KTM), Jérome Cousin (Europcar) and Ricardo Vilela (Caja  Rural) could not open more than a 3-minute gap on the peloton led by Tinkoff-Saxo and Cannondale-Garmin, a margin that went on reducing as the finishing line was getting closer. 

Duarte made his move with 5 km to go, trying a brave solo action, but in the end the peloton earned their sprint opportuity: Duque launched himself in the mass dash with determination, once again grazing the big goal. After battling with Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana on yesterday’s mountains, Miguel Angel Rubiano easily defended his sixth place in the overall, while Fabio Duarte took 20th in the final standings. 

Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi wrapped a very positive balance: “We rode a very good Route du Sud, from the start to the finish. We took home a prestigious sixth place and another KOM jersey: we are starting to have plenty at our main site, maybe we are running for a record! Today, Duarte provided a very strong performance: he started the breakaway on the only climb of the day, showing the determination and approach of an whole team giving their 100% to pursue victory. Leonardo rode a very good finale too: we only missed a stage win. But the team performance deserves praise.”

The Tour of Slovenia also came to a close with the fourth stage, Rogaska Slatina-Novo Mesto (165,5 km) won in a sprint by Slovenian Marko Kump (Adria Mobil). Another Slovenian, Primoz Roglic (Adria Mobil), won the overall classification, while Carlos Julian Quintero was the best Team Colombia-Coldeportes in 24th position. The final day was constantly controlled by Adria Mobil and Lampre, who left little space to a 7-man breakaway including Colombia-Coldeportes’ Juan Pablo Valencia.

The Escarabajos are now headed back to Colombia for some weeks of altitude training, focusing on their racing comeback in August and on the Vuelta a Espana, starting on Saturday August 22nd, 2015.