Alejandro Osorio (GW Erco Shimano) was the winner of the 3rd stage of the Tour Colombia. The Colombian national champion beat Rodrigo Contreras (NU Colombia) in an exciting contest. Before that, they had distinguished themselves from a small group of leaders that included Egan Bernal and Rigoberto Urán.
The runners once again faced a challenging stage. All day in Tunja, cyclists competed on a local circuit. The circuit had two short climbs, but challenging due to their sequence. The circuit was completed eleven times, covering a total of 142 kilometers.
On the way to victory in the third stage
The first two athletes to stand out in the race were David Santiago Gómez (Sistecrédito) and Bernardo Suaza (Petrolike). They took a four-minute lead. However, it was difficult for the pair to face the peloton, which was progressively closing in. Among those left behind were Fernando Gaviria and Mark Cavendish as the final hour of racing began.
With around 35 km to go, Gómez and Suaza were still ahead by a full 1 min 40 sec. It was at that moment that Richard Carapaz accelerated hard. The EF Education-EasyPost Ecuadorian accelerated before the top of one of the hills, but was unable to distance himself.
However, his action opened the way for several attacks, the peloton split further, and with twenty kilometers remaining the first two runners were caught up.
The dramatic race to the finish line
Seven kilometers later, at the start of the last lap, Vinicius Rangel (Movistar), Richard Carapaz and Alexey Lutsenko managed a slight separation. However, a group of around thirty cyclists quickly caught up with them.
An elite of runners that included Bernal and Urán appeared. Urán, from EF Education-EasyPost, accelerated on the penultimate climb of the day. Nairo Quintana tried to keep up with him, but was unable to follow the pace. At the top, Urán accelerated again, gaining a small advantage.
Alejandro Osorio (GW Erco Shimano), Rodrigo Contreras (Nu Colombia), Iván Ramiro Sosa (Movistar) and Egan Bernal from the Colombian national team managed to join him. Then Jonathan Caicedo, Édgar Cadena (Petrolike) and Adrían Bustamante (GW Erco Shimano) also reached this group. Thus, the last three kilometers were contested by a front of eight runners. Harold Tejada, leader of the general classification, lost the dispute.
Check the results and watch the finish 17
In the last two km, Contreras attempted a solo escape, but Osorio managed to catch him at the last moment. From Contreras’ wheel he started the sprint and won easily. Contreras came second, and Urán (EF Education EasyPost) finished third, in the same time as Osorio. Bernal came in fifth place.
New leader
With the result, Rodrigo Contreras (NU Colombia) takes the overall lead of the race with Harold Tejada (Astana Kazaqstan Team) in second place. Oscar Sevilla (Team Medellin), even after a fall at the finish, received the same time as the peloton and appears in 3rd position in the general classification.
Edition note: Oscar Sevilla was taken to the hospital and is doubtful for the 4th stage .
Watch the arrival
Check out the results of the 3rd stage of the Tour Colombia 2024
Tour Colombia 2024 general classification
