Istres (AFP)

Colombian Ivan Sosa (Ineos Grenadiers) took power on the Tour de La Provence by winning the 3rd stage alone, that of Mont Ventoux, on Saturday, disputed between Istres and the Reynard chalet (153.9 km), in front of the two stars of the event, Egan Bernal and Julian Alaphilippe.

Sosa, 23, edged his compatriot and teammate Bernal by 15 seconds and the French world champion in the Deceuninck-Quickstep by 18 seconds.

The podium is the same in the general classification, with Bernal at 19 seconds and Alaphilippe at 21 seconds, and he should not move on Sunday after the 4th and last stage.

On the road to snow-capped Mont Ventoux, the expected duel between the winner of the Tour de France 2019 and the world champion 2020 took place.

While Sosa was already ahead, Alaphilippe and Bernal isolated themselves from the peloton of favorites 3.5 km from the finish line, located in front of the Reynard chalet, two-thirds of the way up to the Giant of Provence.

Dutchman Wouter Poels (Bahrain) briefly joined them, but was left behind by the red flame when the two took turns attacking.

Bernal had the last word in the last 500 meters, overtaking Alaphilippe in the general classification for two seconds.

But the outcome of this mano à mano came when Sosa had already cut the line.

He is the second Colombian winner at Chalet Reynard (14.6 km of ascent at 7.6%) after Nairo Quintana in 2020.

If the latter had attacked seven kilometers from the goal, Sosa increased his effort to just under five kilometers from the line, after a lot of work by his team, while everyone was watching for Bernal.

In the mist of the forest, he quickly took 20 seconds ahead while his teammate controlled Alaphilippe's inclinations.

"We were both leaders this morning, we thought we would see when the time came who would attack first," said Sosa on arrival.

Under bright sunshine and barely positive temperatures, the Colombian refused to claim a leading position on a grand Tour.

On the Giro, he should accompany Bernal, nine months his senior, as a teammate.

But barring a blow from Trafalgar, Sosa should win the 6th Tour de La Provence on Sunday.

The 4th and last stage between Avignon and Salon-de-Provence (163.2 km) is rather conducive to a massive sprint at the finish.

© 2021 AFP