It was a bittersweet day for Team Colombia-Coldeportes in Etoile de Besseges, 152 km on a circuit around Besseges. After yesterday’s crash, this time Edwin Avila managed to compete in th final sprint, and while being forced to change direction by a rival’s crash in the final metres, still managed to come away with an encouraging 7th place. Bryan Coquard (Europcar) took the stage win ahead of Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek) and Edward Theuns (Topsport), who now leads the GC.

There are also bad news though for the Escarabajos, as they lost Carlos Julian Quintero through the stage, after suffering for gastroenteritis for several days.

“Carlos held on admirably, he even managed to pass 1st atop the first categorized climb," Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi said. "But it was impossible to continue in that conditions. On the other hand, it is good to see Avila nearing his ‘old’ level: today he was in Coquard’s wake before being forced to deviate, and I think a good result is within his reach in the next few races”.

After several attempts early on, including those of Walter Pedraza and Camilo Castiblanco, six men – Pierre Rolland (Europcar), Frederik Backaert (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Yoann Paillot (Team Marseille 13-KTM), Baptiste Planckaert (Roubaix-Lille Métropole), Flavien Dassonville (Auber 93) and Fabricio Ferrari (Caja Rural) – got clear of the bunch, and managed to stay at the front until 1,5 km to go. In the end, the peloton pulled by Trek succeeded in closing the gap, and Bryan Coquard did not miss his chance to redeem himself after yesterday’s crash.

Tomorrow, Saturday, it will be the fourth stage from L’Ardoise to Laudun (156,3 km). Last year it was Coquard who succeeded in the same finish, but Edwin Avila will be looking to be in the mix.