Stage Favourites:
***Cardoso(SAS) **Favilli(FAR) *Sulzberger(DTS)

Another 'sprinters' stage but far from flat, with many short steep climbs early on and in total over 1400 meters of climbing.

Within the first 30 kilometres the racing was really frantic, a 29 man break even tried to get away. Eventually everything came back together before a 12 man break set off, man of our riders were really suffering with the pace, it is to be expected after little racing recently.

Popov(Rusvelo) took the only KOM summit and was the last to be gobbled up by the peloton. The stage was destined to be another sprint. Coming into the final the pace was relentess only two of our riders could stay with the main bunch.

For the second straight day Docker takes the win, this time in the turquoise coloured leader jersey, in a strong man sprint after a difficult day in the saddle.

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After the stage I got a text from Kupeshov saying he had a near miss with a car, going way to quickly, in Kazakhstan. He said he was shaken but fortunately he was physically okay. I told him he was very lucky and to put the experience behind him, I said what ever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

STAGE 3: Bodrum - Marmaris 167 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Quintana(BSC) **Faili(FAR) *Garcia(IBA)

With over 2000 meters of climbing today is a testing hilly stage with some short steep hills towards the finish, however a sprinter who is in great form may well survive in the leading group.

A four man break got away inside 10 kilometres including our Uzbek NC Lagutin, in his last season as a pro. The break included strong riders, the strongest being Gusev who took both KOM sprints early on and will wear the KOM jersey.
With more than 100 kilometres to go Argos Oil then Bretagne and Dual Temp began the chase, the chances of the break succeeding looked slim.

With 10 kilometres to go the break have 1:10 as they hit the final short steep climb, Lagutin immediately goes out the back as the attacks start behind with Rohregger. Then stage favourites Quintana and Garcia put in a huge effort.
They bridge across to the break and Quintana attacks over the top, but gets caught on the descent by Garcia and the resilient Gusev.

Garcia is clearly the strongest sprinter and wins into Marmaris and will take the GC lead, the main group arrive 42 seconds down including Docker. Our best rider was well down but at least we got into the break today.

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STAGE 4: Marmaris - Pamukkale 205 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Quintana(BSC) **Kelderman(AGS) *Izagirre(BSC)

This was an absolute dog of a stage with over 3000 meters of climbing, the only good news for the sprinters was that the most climbing was in the first half. All our riders were suffering big time already.

We were very pleased with Martinez who managed to join a five man break early on which included S.Clarke and Klyuev @3:31. But 30 kilometres into the stage the break reach the only KOM points on offer for the day and attack each other from a few kilometres out. Klyuev takes maximum points, having already taken some KOM points, and will wear that jersey at the end of the stage.
Martinez gets dropped by these attacks, he follows De La Cruz and Valynin before they bridge across to the original break and he gets dropped again.

The terrain was very difficult, 'pure' sprinters Kummer and Swift were out the back early on. With 90 kilometres to go the break had 11 minutes and it was clear the break were going to fight out the stage, despite Argos Oil and Bretagne coming to the front the break also stood a chance of gaining the GC lead.

The break have well over 4 minutes with 15 kilometres to go when Klyuev attacks, De La Cruz attacks with 7 kilometres tog go, both attacks don't even create a gap with the other break riders. Serebryakov looks the fastest on paper but the finish is slightly uphill. Inside the final kilometre it will be between Clarke and Valynin, Clarke wins just beating Valynin and will narrowly take the GC lead thanks to time gaps and bonus seconds mainly.

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STAGE 5: Denizli - Fethiye 218 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Kelderman(AGS) **Quintana(BSC) *Garcia(IBA)

Similar terrain to the previous stage this was another really difficult stage for our team.

Canadian champ Boivin @3:04, who I managed last year, attacked on the early slopes and would eventually make his was across to complete a 6 man break. Once again the peloton were not interested in catching the break and they would fight out for victory.

With 100 kilometres to go and Dukla and Iberia looking to increase the pace, Quintana and Docker are off the rear of the peloton. But they will make their way back on with help from their teammates.
Out front Pasquelon finishes 1st and 2nd at the two KOM points and will wear that jersey.

With 28 kilometres to go the break reach the final really short steep climb, Boivin and Khatuntsev then Pasquelon get dropped. With 15 kilometres to go McNally puts in an attack but gets nowhere. Serov then simply rides away from McNally and Palandri for a classy win and he will take a commanding GC lead. For Us Nateghi and Al-Ghanim showed well, no doubt they would be up there in GC if they came to the tour in form.

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STAGE 6: Fethiye - Finike 183 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Swift(KAT) **Kummer(SAS) *Manan(DLA)

Although not as difficult as previous stages this stage still hosts over 2000 meters of climbing, sprinters and riders who are suffering will have little chance of victory.

A 10 man break got away thinking there was a decent chance of success, but not today. The sprinters team's would give their all to prevent another break success. The only exposure for our team would be when the cameras would be focused on the rear of the peloton.

The peloton was decreasing in size all the time, only 65 riders were left when the break was finally gobbled up with 6 kilometres to go. Then Hupond, who had just been caught after a late attack, and four others attacked, the peloton had no more resources capable of shutting down another attack and the five would battle it out for victory.

Rudaskov was by far the strongest and will take the win after going solo from 1 kilometre to go, our best finisher was Nateghi, the rest of our team were dropped. Only two more stages of this hell left for our team.

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