Mauro Finetto (Neri Sottoli) put himself in a perfect position to win the Tour du Limousin overall when he won today's queen stage and took the overall lead. Despite focusing more on the stage win, the Italian will do his utmost to defend the lead in tomorrow's final stage.

Yesterday Mauro Finetto was very frustrated after he had been hit by another rider in the uphill sprint on stage 2 of the Tour du Limousin. Today he was out to make amends in the queen stage which had a similar finish and suited the strong puncheur down to the ground.

Finetto got his revenge as he left nothing wondering who is the strongest rider in the 4-day race. On the 3km climb to the finish, he held off Julien Simon and Davide Rebellin in a sprint to take his second win of the season.

The trio were in a class of his own and managed to gain time on all their rivals. Race leaer Bjorn Leukemans did his best to limit his losses but when he rolled across the line, he had lost 15 seconds and the leader’s jersey to Finetto.

"The team worked in the finale to catch the break," he told Directvelo. "I launched my sprint with 300 meters to go to try to to extend my lead over Bjorn Leukemans. At the first crossing of the line, I was careful to find out what gear to use. I madet the right choice.

"I really felt good from the beginning of the Tour du Limousin and I had seen that today's finale suited my characteristics. My teammates did a great job all day but it was hard for them in the last kilometers to catch the escapees. In the last hundred meters I gave everything and I managed to get this victory.

"Yesterday, I knew the finish was for me, but I had a mechanical problem in the sprint. This did not give me a lot of confidence for today. I am very happy to win. I have not won since March, in the Grand Prix of Lugano. I was really focused all day on the stage win. In addition, I take the overall lead. It's great! 

"Of course we will of course defend the jersey tomorrow. The team is strong. I do not know the final circuit in Limoges, as this is the first time I have participated in the event. If it's hard, it is better for me. Hopefully I have as good legs as in recent days. For me, the first stage was the hardest. Not only because it was difficult, but the roads were narrower and in a bad condition.

"It is true that today I was thinking more of the stage than the GC but I knew there were bonuses at the finish and I am of course very happy to take the yellow jersey tonight. I really hope to keep it to the end even though my opponents are not far behind  in the overall standings and they have proved from the start that they are in good condition. Tomorrow we will give everything to bring the jersey home."

"We had a good day," sports director Serge Parsani said. "Unfortunately, we lost one of our riders Simone (Ponzi) due to a stupid accident. He rode over a bottle. It seems that it is not serious and he should be ready for Châteauroux - Classic de l'Indre on Sunday. We will miss him when we will try to defend Mauro's jersey.

"We know that he is good but the gaps are smool. Hopefully, we will do well tomorrow. We will control the riders that are less than a minute behind Mauro."