Crashes meant that Colombian champion Miguel Angel Rubiano didn't have the Giro d'Italia he was hoping for. Now he is back in racing mode at the Route du Sud and in the first stage he showed that he has rediscovered his best legs.

After the second part of his Giro was hampered by a number of crashes, Team Colombia’s Miguel Angel Rubiano is finding his best swing back at the Route du Sud. In yesterday’s 1st stage of the French race, the Colombian National Champion finished 14th in Pavolle after 171 km, where Movistar’s Jesus Herrada managed to hold the slightest of leads to win solo ahead of teammate Alejandro Valverde, who outsprinted the main chasing group.

After a 4-man breakaway characterized the early going, the peloton got back together for the final 15 km, punctuated by two 3rd category climbs. The peloton splintered under the strong push by Movistar and Team Sky, but it was Herrada who made the right move with 3 km to go, eventually going on to raise his arms with a slight margin. Behind him, Team Colombia’s Rodolfo Torres and Edward Diaz finished with Rubiano in a 40-unit main group.

“Today we opted not to go for the early break and save energies for the finale and we were glad with what we saw from Rubiano, Torres and Diaz," Sports Director Oliverio Rincon explained. "Miguel didn’t have his best Giro, but everybody knows what he is worth, and he will definitely take his  payback on bad luck soon.”

Darwin Pantoja also gave some comforting indications in his race comeback after the scary crash in Gippingen:

“Darwin got dropped with 5 km to go due to cramps, caused by the sweltering heat, but we were happy to see how he handled himself after Gippingen’s crash. If he feels fine, tomorrow’s stage might suit him pretty well.”

On Saturday, the queen stage of the race expects the Route du Sud riders, Bagnerres de Bigorre – Val Louron (178,6 km): the ascents to iconic Col du Tourmalet and Col d’Aspin will select the pack ahead of the final climb, that will probably have the final word on the team leaders’ GC ambitions.