The first road stage of the Tour of Turkey sees Ian Stannard in the yellow jersey. Even Stannard, deep down, believes that it will not be the same tonight. Today is the first of several real tests for the puncheurs in the peleton – and there are some great ones here. It will be interesting to see whether any of the big GC men can claw back time lost yesterday or if they can drag out a gap over their rivals that they can try to hold on to for the rest of the tour.
The stage opened up almost straight onto a trio of small hills – perfect for those looking to get in to an early break. The first man to try his luck is Petr Ignatenko. Quickly on his wheel follow: Giles Heymes Arman Kamyshev Tosh Van der Sande
Before these four riders can even get organised, Aurélien Passeron and Natnael Berhane jump across the gap, creating a group of 6 riders about a minute ahead of the peleton.
Berhane sits on the back of the group, clearly marking it in order to help out Stannard and Dowsett for later in the stage. It was a clever move for Rapha to put him in the break. Behind them, meanwhile, a few more riders decide to try their luck. Attempting to bridge are: Glenn Likhaya Tom Scully Cherif Abdallah
And Fabrice Jeandesbosz
It is clear that California Giant and Trilux aren’t pleased by the idea of two Rapha riders in the breakaway, so both teams work together to up the pace on the third climb and the bring both groups back in to the fold. The first attempt at forming a break has failed, but of course this is only temporary. As the bunch gets back down to the flat, a new attack forms, started by Hayden Roulston. Roulston performed well in the time trial yesterday so heading in the break yesterday is a bold move that, if he pulls it off, could put him in yellow.
Going with Roulston are: Jan Hopman Natnael Berhane Fumiyuki Beppu Tosh Van der Sande Giles Heymes Petr Ignatenko Thomas Koep Philip Lavery
The teams in charge of the peleton decide to let this move go as it doesn’t contain the same large Rapha component as the previous move. Berhane once again sits on the back, waiting for instructions.
Shortly after the break forms the intermediate sprint arrives. Roulston would gain a lot from this one, being only 10” back at the start of the day but he starts the sprint from too far back and so it is Beppu who wins the 6 seconds over Lavery and Van der Sande. This puts Beppu on the same time as Roulston and so both would stand to do immensely well if it came down to the break winning the day.
The break are allowed to get a maximum of 8’15” but then the rain starts coming down slightly so the pack decides that it is best to keep a short leash on the riders out front. Rapha do most of the chasing and the gap starts tumbling rapidly. Over the middle lumpy section of the day the high pace causes 12 riders to have difficulty and they find themselves detached from the bunch. The biggest name is Pim Ligthart, sitting in 2nd place overall, but not a real contender for the GC. Clearly his effort in the time trial yesterday really cost him dearly.
The break gets to the only King of the Mountain points for the day and unsurprisingly it is hotly contested – the winner of this one will be guaranteed at least a day in the jersey, as well as an early lead in the competition. Ignatenko is the first rider to stake his claim, and he creates a small gap to the rest. However, the effort clearly cost him and the others behind him start to pull him back. It is a close call though, who will wear the jersey tomorrow?
Cyclevox’s young Heymes takes the mountain prime by less than a wheel length. Ignatenko just holds on to second over Lavery. Koep and Van der Sande mop up the rest of the points. Now it is just a matter of the riders up front working together to try to get to the finish line, but with the gap at only 4’14” and 67km remaining, it is going to be a hard ask.
The chase continues over the next 20km approaching the final 40km of hills, and at the foot of the first of these hills, Rapha’s Tsgabu Grmay has almost singlehandedly pulled the gap back to a mere 1’30”. California Giant and Venchi lead, as Peter Sagan takes to the front of the peleton. He really stretches things out, but then the race radio crackles in to life, announcing a puncture. Who could it be?
Cesare Di Maggio punctures just as the pace starts rising. Sagan immediately comes off the front, and fortunately Di Maggio didn’t lose any time to the bunch, but he has to work his way back up to the front. Cal Giant show no mercy and keep things rolling along as best they can. The effect of this can be seen quite quickly as none other than race leader Ian Stannard drops off the back. Several of the Rapha domestiques go back to help guide the yellow jersey in to the end of the race with some dignity.
The three teams with big favourites for today continue pushing a high tempo – Cal Giant, Trilux and Venchi. They keep the peleton stretched out and no one dares to attack until there are only 16km to go. Ronan Van Zandbeek, the Dutch time trialist, decides that some of the big puncheurs might give him a break if he goes first, so he tries to force his way off the front.
He quickly gets 20” but he misjudged the reaction of the other riders. Ben Hermans, Rothaus’ big hope for the GC, attacks out of the bunch and past Van Zandbeek. He continues on and is followed by two other second-string favourites for today. They are Giovanni Visconti and Ignas Konovalovas. These three could pose a serious threat if they are given too much rope by the men behind.
The trio build 20” and look to be working well together but then the big favourites get serious. Cesare Di Maggio jumps clear of the group with Samuel Sanchez firmly stuck to his wheel.
These two attack right into the group of other favourites and there is some looking around. No one wants to be the man who brings either of these two newcomers to the finish line. Because of this, Sanchez is forced to go to the front but the group is being dragged back in to the fold by Trilux, whose Matthias Kessler has marshalled his men at just the right moment. Sanchez stops working and both Hermans and Visconti seize the opportunity to kick again, staying ahead of the pack. Di Maggio once again tries to bridge across to them, this time on a descent, but he can’t manage it.
Trilux keep forcing a high pace and under the 5km kite everyone is back together. There is only one climb left before the finishing hill and this penultimate climb sees yet another attack from Hermans. Di Maggio also manages to find the energy to pull out of the group again. Where are these two men finding their energy? Di Maggio’s move spurs a response from Konovalovas, Dowsett and, for the first time this race, Kessler!
Only Kessler is able to follow this acceleration and at the base of the final climb it looks like a three man race for the stage victory. Di Maggio and Kessler start side-by-side with Hermans a bike length behind them.
As the climb starts to ramp up, Hermans’ efforts earlier in the day start to catch up to him and he drops off the pace of the other two. Di Maggio and Kessler fight it out for a second and then Di Maggio, too, succumbs to his efforts.
Kessler wins stage two!
Hermans holds on for third, but him dropping back means that the favourites group all finish in the same time.
Sagan comes in 4th, making it 2 riders in the top 5 for Venchi. Visconti is 6th ahead of teammate Bernucci. Konovalovas is 7th then Dowsett, Voeckler and a rather disappointing Sanchez round out the top 10.
