Tour of Turkey – Third stage win for Cavendish

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Omega Pharma – Quick-Step’s Mark Cavendish finished off a textbook leadout on stage 4 of Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey on Wednesday

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Tour of Turkey – Third stage win for Cavendish

300414-OPQS-Tour-of-Turkey-Stage-4-Cavendish-Arrival

Photo: OPQS/Tim De Waele

Despite chaos that included a race neutralization due to a peloton crash in rainy conditions, OPQS maintained composure and placed themselves perfectly on the front with 5km to go. There was a battle for position on the descent following a final climb, and OPQS won the battle with five riders in front of the Manx Missile as they headed toward the sprint.

OPQS was so dominant in their leadout, that they never lost the front position, and even had as many as four riders still in front of the British Champion with 1km to go. Mark Renshaw then led Cavendish to inside the 100m to go mark before launching him. Cavendish — wearing the points jersey — won by more than a bike length, with Renshaw placing 3rd behind Maximiliano Richeze (Lampre-Merida).

“The guys were absolutely perfect again today,” Cavendish said. “They were perfect the entire day, not just in the leadout. It’s nice to have a team around me at this race where every guy is riding incredible. They never left my side. Even on the last climb it was like riding in a bubble.”

“I was surrounded by OPQS protecting me and guiding me. We got to the front just before the bottom of the climb and we kept the control until the sprint. They were phenomenal. The leadout was just another example of the perfect job by the guys.”

“Alessandro Petacchi and Mark Renshaw were super fast and they delivered me in the best position to launch the sprint. I would also like to congratulate the race commissaires and the organizers for the fact that they neutralized the race”.

“It’s nice to see a race choose the safety of the riders as the top priority. We didn’t race for about 10 kilometers and then we started again. When they neutralized the race it was difficult to ride and handle the bike, it was like riding on marbles. So, the right decision was made without a doubt. Tomorrow is another stage for the sprinters. Even if the beginning is a bit difficult we will see what can happen with our team riding so strong.”

300414-OPQS-Tour-of-Turkey-Stage-4-Cavendish-podium

Photo: OPQS/Tim De Waele

ADAM YATES SAFELY HOME – SECOND OVERALL
Stage four of the Tour of Turkey was a quiet day for ORICA-GreenEDGE and at the end, Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis) continues to lead the race, 6” ahead of Adam Yates.

“The rain started up the first climb, but the descent was particularly bad,” said Assistant Sport Director Julian Dean. “It’s common here that when it rains the roads are quite slippery. It was really the condition of the roads that dictated what happened on the descent. Luckily for us we didn’t have a single rider go down on the slippery roads,” added Dean. “I’d say that was in large part due to our excellent tires from Continental.”

As the other teams duked it out for the stage win, ORICA-GreenEDGE protected Adam Yates in the bunch. “Adam was our first priority, although we had no intentions of taking any responsibility unless it was absolutely necessary,” said Dean. “It turned out there was really no need to lead the charge as other teams took on that responsibility for their sprinters. Aside from the weather, the guys had an easier day in the bunch.”

For ORICA-GreenEDGE, today wasn’t a day of gains, but most importantly there were no losses. In two days time, the peloton will face what is widely thought to be the final decisive stage of the tour for the overall contenders. With Yates sitting pretty in the general classification, the priority for the team will be to protect his position, if not help bump him into the top spot overall.

“Looking further down the week, we want to be more aggressive,” said Dean. “Friday is a big day to help Adam have a crack at taking the lead.”

RESULT
1 CAVENDISH Mark Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 03:14:23
2 RICHEZE Ariel Maximiliano Lampre-Merida
3 RENSHAW Mark Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
4 SBARAGLI Kristian MTN – Qhubeka
5 VIVIANI Elia Cannondale
6 BOL Jetse Belkin-Pro Cycling Team
7 ILESIC Aldo Ino UnitedHealthcare
8 HALLER Marco Team Katusha
9 ÖRKEN Ahmet Torku Şekerspor
10 VAN STAEYEN Michael Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise

36 GREIPEL André Lotto Belisol
41 YATES Adam Orica GreenEDGE
48 SANCHEZ Luis Leon Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
49 SULZBERGER Bernard Drapac Professional Cycling
50 NORRIS Lachlan Drapac Professional Cycling
140 BOS Theo Belkin-Pro Cycling Team 8.17

OVERALL
1 TAARAMäE Rein Cofidis, Solutions Crédits 16:00:54
2 YATES Adam Orica GreenEDGE 00:06
3 HARDY Romain Cofidis, Solutions Crédits 00:38
4 SANCHEZ Luis Leon Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
5 KUDUS Merhawi MTN – Qhubeka
6 HANSEN Adam Lotto Belisol 00:43
7 COBO ACEBO Juan Jose Torku Åžekerspor 00:44
8 FORMOLO Davide Cannondale
9 BARBIN Enrico Bardiani – CSF
10 DYACHENKO Alexandr Astana Pro Team

 

 

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