Fernando Tercero enters the top ten of the Ronde de l’Isard after finishing second on the summit of Guzet Neige
45º Ronde de l’Isard
Stage 3: Saint Aventin – Guzet Neige (126,2 km)
It doesn’t have as much of a name as other climbs in the Pyrenees, but the truth is that Guzet Neige has been the finish of the Tour de France on some occasions (in 1988, when Pedro Delgado won the French round, for example) and for the Ronde de l’Isard it is a recurring stopover. An iconic place, unmistakable with its urbanised area with wooden houses among trees, which this Friday welcomed the Ronde de l’Isard with a victory for the Frenchman Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ), son and grandson of cyclists, and second place for Fernando Tercero from La Mancha. The cyclist from Ciudad Real climbs twelve positions in the general classification and climbs up to the tenth position of the provisional general classification.
Both the rider from Valdepeñas and the Catalan David Domínguez were among the main protagonists of a mountainous day that in its first third had to overcome two major passes such as the Col de Menté and the Col de Portet d’Aspet. Given the solid lead of the leader, Norwegian Jumbo-Visma rider Johannes Staune-Mittet, for many riders the day was a long offensive to test the strength of both the yellow rider and his structure.
#RDLI2022. Fernando Tercero lanza su @AurumBikes hacia la meta de Guzet Neige, final de la tercera etapa de la @RondeIsard.
[📽️ @hectorangueira] #EOLOKOMETACyclingTeam #EquipoSub23 #Etapa3 pic.twitter.com/KpVhB9nIi8— FundContadorTeam (@FundContaTeam) September 30, 2022
In those moves Tercero and Dominguez (first on the Portet d Aspet cover) rode with big names like Lenny Martinez and Joseph Pidcock (Groupama-FDJ), Simon Dalby (UnoX), Quentin Cowan (Vendée U), Archie Ryen (Jumbo-Visma) or Abel Balderstone (Caja Rural). Both rode in a group of twelve riders that was finally caught by the leader’s group at the 88th kilometre. The next challenge, although new offensives came in between, was set for the final climb.
On Guzet Neige, with Lizarte’s Antonio Nieto from Extremadura starting the climb alone, a multitude of attacks from a main group of some twenty-two riders in the last six kilometres. Groupama-FDJ, represented by a quadruple bunch, would launch Martínez and New Zealander Reuben Thompson, while from the back, just nine riders holding on at the time with Fernando Tercero and David Domínguez hanging in there, Tercero would make his move with two kilometres to go. Tercero could not catch Martínez, while Domínguez finished 13th.
#RDLI2022. La lluvia había dado una tregua en este arranque de jornada en @RondeIsard y permitó disfrutar de la formidable belleza de los #Pirineos en el entorno de Saint-Aventin. Pelotón agrupado tras 20 km.
[📽️ @rafaeldiazjusto]
#EOLOKOMETACyclingTeam #EquipoSub23 #Etapa3 pic.twitter.com/RraJHvmrj5— FundContadorTeam (@FundContaTeam) September 30, 2022
Fernando Tercero: “It was practically full gas day. From the first climb the pace was high. Then in the valley there was a small break where the race regrouped. On the last climb I felt pretty good. It was a pity I wasn’t there when Lenny and Reuben started, but this Saturday will be another chance”.
“Today’s stage was a stage of enduring the demanding pace of the favourites on the first pass, as well as on the Portet d’Aspet, which I was able to climb in the lead. Then in the 50 kilometres that still remained until the start of the last pass both Fer and I filtered into a group of twelve riders, but in the end we were caught by the bunch. On the final climb I was able to hold on with the group of favourites until three kilometres from the finish, when I had to drop off and finish climbing at my own pace”, analysed David Domínguez.
“I’m quite happy with the performance I’m showing in the first two mountain stages, being very close to the best until the last kilometres. The overall is not something I’m personally looking for, but being close to the best every day is something that will come on its own. Let’s see how we recover for the last two remaining stages, with high mountains and opting for stage wins and looking for a possible podium with Fernando, who is performing at a very high level”, concludes David Domínguez from the transfer to the hotel.
The mountains are not over yet in an edition of the Ronde de l’Isard that this Saturday proposes a stage even more complicated if possible given the proximity between the orographic difficulties. La Crouzette (with a couple of very hard kilometres) and Lers will anticipate the final ascent to Goulier-Neige, not easy at all with a lot of double-digit ramps on its route. Fernando Tercero is tenth, 11’26” behind the leader. David Domínguez, who has also jumped fourteen places in the general standings, is now 15th, 13’21” behind.
[📷 Corentin Richard / Ronde de l´Isard (1, 2, 3, 4) ]
