April 26, 2007 (Covington, Virginia) – Dominique Perras (KBS/Medifast) finished fourth in Wednesday’s Stage 3 at the Tour of Virginia. The stage was won by Javier Zapata (COL, Caico).

Perras, who recently suffered from food poisoning, said, “On Monday night, I was pretty sick. Nevertheless on Tuesday I managed to take part in the TT and started to feel a bit better in the criterium later that evening. By Wednesday, I was feeling a lot better.”

Perras joined about twenty riders who staged a break lasting to the half way point of the 177km race between Bedford and Covington. About 35 kms to the finish, Perras tried to stave off an attack during a steep climb that lasted several kilometers. “A Columbian attacked and I set off after him. I reached the summit 50 seconds behind him and 50 seconds ahead of a group of eight riders. But after the downhill, I couldn’t catch him, (the Columbian) and had to wait for the chase group of eight cyclists.”

Perras added that his team’s objectives are top placement in the overall standings, or at the very least to win a stage. Perras and his team mate, Dan Bowman, are contenders to win the overall.

Thursday sees the Tour of Virginia’s 165 km fourth stage between Hot Springs and Waynesboro.