Davide Rebellin confirmed that he is one of the top favorites for the general classification in the Tour du Limousin by finishing 2nd on the hardest stage. 

"Today our team controlled the pace in the bunch and was making sure that the gap to the escape was never too big. In the finale Maciej Paterski and Grega Bole did a great job by helping me to position myself for the attack, but Herrada surprised everyone with his move with 800 meters to go. I was hoping that the final climb would be a little bit steeper and harder. I prefer more demanding terrain and this is where my chances for victory are the biggest. I'm happy to win the sprint for the 2nd place though and want to thank my teammates who again helped me a lot," Davide Rebellin explained. 

"The team worked to get a sprint but I thought that the last kilometer was more difficult. The winner really attacked at the right time, nobody reacted. I was still waiting, thinking it was going to be harder. I am still happy, but it's a shame not to have won. 

"The last stages are not as hard, I think we will have bunch sprints. It will be difficult to make differences. But we'll see, there are still two days of racing. My goal coming here was to win the Tour. It's not over, there can still be surprises. 

"I do not know yet if I'll still be in professional squads next year. My goal is to fo the beautiful classics like the Ardennes which I prefer. The years pass, I will make my decision later in the season. I always get results, and I am still very motivated. The team has great confidence in me and they step up each year. We'll see..."
 

The hilly race from Pompadour do Lissac-sur-Couze was very lively from the very beginning. After series of attacks, a 3-man group was established in the front. It included Baptiste Planckaert (Roubaix-Lille Métropole), Marco Minnaard (Wanty – Groupe Gobert) and Julien Duval (Armée de Terre). They built up a 7-minute lead, but it was reduced to only 3:30, when the orange squad with the support of the leader's team Bardiani-CSF, moved up in the bunch.

With 65 kilometers to go, Duval got dropped from the break. The duo continued their ride for the next 40 kilometers until Minnaard was unable to keep up with Planckaert. He was reeled in, but a few minutes later the Belgian escapee also got caught, 15 kilometers from the line.

On the penultimate cat.2 climb, the peloton got shattered and only 60 riders approached the last ascent in the main field. Among them was Jesus Herrada (Movistar), who pulled away on the steep section in the finale and powered solo to victory. He reached the finish 10 seconds ahead of the chasing pack, from which Davide Rebellin was the strongest. He claimed 2nd and climbed up in the general classification to 5th overall. Thomas Sprengers (Topsport-Vlaanderen Baloise) was 3rd on the stage.

Herrada took over the leader's jersey and is 14 seconds ahead of the Italian from CCC Sprandi Polkowice.