Only 3 riders taking part to the Turkish Championships, that this year will be raced in a hilly route, in the whereabouts of the beautiful Istanbul, the melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures. All of them come from different teams so we might well see a tactic race. Hahaha just kidding whoever goes in the break will take it.
Orken (Vesuvio) is the one and attacks as soon as the racing is off. He’s got 3 minutes on the other 2 just when he’s about to face the steep climb up one of the 7 hills of Istanbul.
The other 2 are preserving their energies for the TT. Racing? What’s that?
And Orken takes a very easy win! No one tried to face him today. Although the other 2 clearly tried their best, they will have to withdraw when they’re basically just halfway through the race.
The very same riders will also take part to the pan-flat Time Trial. There’s no standout time trialist in the field, as all of them can be considered on the same level. We could well see an actually exciting Time Trial for once!
Sayar (Siam) starts first, and he’s mostly keeping the same pace as Orken (Vesuvio), maybe slightly slower. Hasta (Red Bull) in the meantime sets his first time in the first checkpoint, and he’s currently well ahead of the other 2.
At the checkpoint number 3 we can already predict how the podium will look like, with Hasta improving his margin on respectively Orken and Sayar.
Sayar comes to the finish and sets the first point of reference for the other 2 to come.
Orken eventually makes it in front of him for a bit more than half a minute.
…however Hasta is in the form of his life today, and takes one of the most dominating wins so far, finishing 1 minute and 40 seconds ahead Orken. Great stuff!
