In a dizzying finish full of attacks, Alejandro Osorio (GW Erco Shimano) defeated Rodrigo Contreras (NU Colombia) in the third stage of the Tour Colombia 2024 with a time of 03:20:18.
The day was disputed in a circuit in Tunja for a total of 141.9 kilometers traveled. Rodrigo Contreras (NU Colombia) assaulted the lead by the bonuses and now leads the general classification, followed by the Huilense Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan) at 6″ and the Italian Andrea Piccolo (EF Education – EasyPost) at 11″.
The race started at a good pace, with a breakaway in which Bernardo Suaza (Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli) and David Santiago Gómez (Team Sistecrédito) stood out, however, they were caught later after the chase of the top teams.
At the end of the fraction, the winner expressed his satisfaction for the victory. “The truth super happy with this victory, I have worked hard to arrive well and enjoy this condition. I dedicate this victory to my teammates who are always looking out for me. Happy with this victory, I feel very good,” said Osorio, with a past in the World Tour.
The native of El Carmen del Viboral, who is not a pure climber like most of the talents of our country, took advantage of his skill for this type of routes with small slopes.
I really enjoy this kind of circuits, they go very well with my conditions and today it showed. It was not easy to get into the final breakaway, then I decided to go to the wheel. Yesterday was good experience for today, because yesterday I sprinted very long”, added the rider from Antioquia.
Also, the Carmelite rider referred to an episode that he does not want to remember and repeat, but from which he learned a lot to be where he is, winning and showing all his category to the Colombian people.
“They were small problems that I had in Europe, for me it was not correct the decision they made, I lost a year of my career, the truth was very hard for me, I would like to be in World Tour. The important thing is that I recovered my happiness and I am enjoying it every day,” finished Osorio, who began his professional career in 2017.
Unexpected news on this day was a very hard crash at the end, where the experienced Colombian-Spanish rider, Óscar Sevilla, was involved, who was forced to abandon the race with three days to go.
“Our rider Óscar Sevilla suffered a crash in stage 3 of the Tour Colombia, which was disputed on a circuit in Tunja over 141.9 kilometers. With 500 meters to go, when the fraction was defined, Sevilla was involved in a fall of several riders and went to hit the fences,” the team explained on social networks.
The cyclist was one of the cards of Team Medellin-EPM to fight for the title of the competition, he was in the fight for the overall; Sevilla was in second place. After the accident it was necessary to take stitches in his face and shoulder.
“The cyclist underwent different medical check-ups and was found to have a fracture in the rib arch. We are thankful that it was not serious. We have to give a part of tranquility, Oscar is fine,” said the second medical report of the continental squad from Antioquia.
This Friday will be the fourth stage, starting in Paipa and finishing in Zipaquirá, over 181.8 kilometers. In total there will be 6 days of competition until February 11.
Stage 3 | Tunja – Tunja (141,9 km)
| 1 | Alejandro Osorio | GW Erco Shimano | 3:20:18 |
| 2 | Rodrigo Contreras | Nu Colombia | ,, |
| 3 | Rigoberto Urán | EF Education – EasyPost | ,, |
| 4 | Jonathan Klever Caicedo | Petrolike | ,, |
| 5 | Egan Bernal | Colombia | ,, |
Ranking General
| 1 | Rodrigo Contreras | Nu Colombia | 10:33:58 |
| 2 | Harold Tejada | Astana Qazaqstan Team | 0:06 |
| 3 | Andrea Piccolo | EF Education – EasyPost | 0:11 |
| 4 | Cesar David Guavita | Colombia Potencia de la Vida – Strongman | 0:17 |
| 5 | Yeison Sebastian Reyes | Team Sistecredito | ,, |