Davide Piganzoli (Visma-Lease a Bike) went on a mountain raid to claim a solo win on stage 3 and the overall victory at La Route d’Occitanie.

The 23-year-old Italian, who started the day eight seconds behind overnight leader Thibaud Gruel (Groupama-FDJ United), attacked with 5km to the top of the category 1 ascent, Col de Val Louron-Azet, in a long-range solo breakaway, and held off the chasing group to take all in Loudenvielle.

The chasing pair of Ibon Ruiz (Equipo Kern Pharma), who finished second, and Ion Izagirre (Cofidis), who finished third, crossed the line 1:43 behind Piganzoli, both also finishing second and third, respectively, on the overall podium.

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It was a massive day of racing for the third and final stage at La Route d’Occitanie, with a 172km race that started in Loures-Barousse and included two category 2 climbs over Col de Coupe (2.8km at 3.5%) and Côte de l’Escaladieu (5km at 5.3%), and then two category 1 climbs over Hourquette d’Ancizan (8.6km at 5%) and Col de Val Louron-Azet (10.7km at 6.7%).

The field then descended toward a finishing circuit that included a short climb over Côte d’Estarvielle (0.7km at 6.3%) in Loudenvielle.

An early breakaway included Tom Donnenwirth (Groupama-FDJ United), Alan Jousseaume (TotalEnergies), Victor Vidal and Nahom Efriem (Bike Aid), Théo Delacroix (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), Arnaud Tendon (Van Rysel Roubaix), and Laurens Huys (Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur).

With roughly 90km remaining, the seven riders stretched their lead out to 2:30 as the final two category 1 ascents of the day loomed ahead.

Gruel’s Groupama-FDJ United set the pace at the front of the field ot protect the overnight race leader, which meant the gap quickly dropped over the penultimate climb, Hourquette d’Ancizan, and the breakaway riders ultimately caught with 60km to go.

The efforts of Visma-Lease a Bike and St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93 quickly brought the peloton into the next category 1 climb, Col de Val Louron-Azet.

Fifteen riders emerged on the steeper slopes fo the Col de Val Louron-Azet, but as the pitches hit 14% it was Piganzoli that surged from the front group with about 5km from the top, and pushed his lead out to over a minute.

Using his superb form off the back of the Giro d’Italia, where he assisted Jonas Vingegaard to overall victory, Piganzoli continued to gain time on the two-man chase.

Izagirre and Ruiz, who also split off the front on the climb, descended at 1:15 behind Piganzoli and, despite their best efforts, were unable to match the lone leader.

Piganzoli crested the short, steep Côte d’Estarvielle on the finishing circuit with nearly two minutes in hand before crossing the line with the day’s victory and the overall title at the La Route d’Occitanie.

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