The final day in Turkey and what a stage. Two huge HC climbs in the end should really mix the GC. Teuns surely not liking this stage as the GC leader is not as strong as the very best here and will need to fight hard to remain in the lead or even the first positions. Same and even more extreme for Kadri. Delvaux likely with their first really weak stage here.
Kiserlovski is the man to beat next to Teuns. His performance on the semi mountain stage was impressive and today could be similar. Suaza the biggest challenger on a stage like this and he will need a huge performance if improving significantly in the GC. Same for Ratiy, who actually is better placed. Though he isn`t known for strong uphill finishes in a peloton and hence his team mate Elissonde is the bigger bet.
König, Pomoshnikov, Anacona though the ones to challenge first while Rodrigues, Hacecký, Potocki, Cataldo, Bardet or Brajkovic come afterwards. With a strong performance today they can justify their strong GC position.
7 riders in the break and some KoM hunters as usual: Wahyudi (1st, 60pts) Cuming (2nd, 36pts) Rosa Bjelkmark Vuillermoz Lemus Davila Heider
Puusepp again not allowed to fight for his KoM ambition due to working for Teuns early on. That said, he neither is as strong as the others on long climbs.
Similar as on the other stage Cuming steals the KoM points slowly and is getting the maximum on the Cat.4 ahead of Wahyudi though. 63 vs 41 now and hence one HC wouldn`t be enough for him.
48km to go and the first climb just starts. Gonzalez Cortes and Hoelgaard with a balanced pace with Teuns in between them.
Behind them Kiserlovski covered by Rujano. Anacona, Pomoshnikov, König, Bardet all on themselves while Elissonde still has Puccioni with him.
But also the other top GC riders all in a decent position.
He might still win the KoM due to the big gap but Wahyudi as first rider can`t follow and soon will be passed by the group of 52 behind him. 16,5km on 7,6% is simply too much for him.
Pereyra is coming to the front as well now working for Pomoshnikov. ENI-MOL did a lot of work this race with not a lot outcome yet. Will it be their day finally?
Only 3 riders remained in the break before the top. Vuillermoz and Heider as duo start the descent first with Rosa having a 23s gap.
Then 1'49 in total behind the leaders a group of 43 riders including all the top riders.
The final mountain is the deciding one. 13,6km on 8,6% average says it all.
Uwizeyimana and Baltazar start to prepare the Kiserlovski attack surely. And Andorra strong enough here as the leader still is covered by Hirschlein, able to save energy.
With 7km to go not a lot has happened yet but the break is finally caught.
Costagli took over from Andorra and is working for Teuns now, who sits right behind him.
Kiserlovski moved back a bit in the middle of the group next to Suaza.
While Costagli remains riding a steady pace, Teuns doesn`t look good. He is slowly losing positions and can`t keep up with the best it seems. Once other riders realize this, they surely higher the pace.
And just a bit later Teunsis having a gap!
Costagli no longer pacing and instead seems to slow down to wait for him.
Anacona and Kiserlovski working now trying to gap him completely. Also the youth jersey by Potocki with a gap and Brajkovic neither looking very good hanging at the very end of the first part.
3,4km and the top climbers accelerate yet again. Lots of gaps open now.
Suaza shows his climbing skills and is up there with Kiserlovski, who is going towards the race win and Anacona.
Behind them a group of 11 riders, that want to remain in the top10. Also Ratiy in there, who just like Suaza needs to gain big.
Costagli then slowly dropping behind to Teuns but struggling to keep a consistent pace for him. Kadri already quite a bit further back and will lose lots today.
While Suaza attacks the front group it`s Elissonde with an impressive ride to the Kiserlovski/Anacona group. As 11th in the GC, he can improve quite a bit still.
But just a bit later Kiserlovski also attacks and quickly is up to Suaza and even passing him. Just stunning to see him ride today.
Anacona/Elissonde follow and have quite a gap to the next, which are König and Pomoshnikov, who also were able to gain time on the weaker climbers behind.
Cataldo and Bardet with very consistent riding as usual just like Hacecky, Rodrigues and today also Ratiy with a potential top10?
Brajkovic not as strong as on the hillier stage but still decent and ahead of Kebede. Potocki following with Costagli but always mixing with the group behind around Teuns.
Suaza not giving up yet. Just 13s to Kiserlovski. As 41st he needs a lot of time to have a chance for a late top10.
But Kiserlovski simply was too strong and he takes the stage and most likely also the GC. Tachira, Langkawi, Catalunya, Hong Kong, East Java and now Turkey. They are good in avoiding each other but it`s about time they finally meet up in the same race to show, who is the CT`s best climber.
Suaza with a good 2nd today 21s later. We`ll see later how much he can climb up.
Anacona in 3rd with 43s and a strong Elissonde next with 51s. Both will surely move up as well. Maybe even joining Kiserlovski onto the podium?
Pomoshnikov next ahead of König. Both at 1'12. This means, the Valio rider will stay in front of the others except for Kiserlovski and hence will be on the podium. Still waiting for Teuns to know if 2nd or 3rd.
Rodrigues next at 1'31 with Cataldo following soon after. Then already Ratiy as 9th and Bardet with a strong 10th ahead of Hacecky and Brajkovic.
GC wise this means Anacona moves behind König ahead of Elissonde, then already Bardet ahead of Pomoshnikov and Cataldo!
And here he comes. Teuns is the beaten leader today but he fought well and had Costagli with him the whole time, even though the Italian sprinted a few seconds ahead in the end. 20th on the stage with a loss of 3'49! GC wise he is dropping down to 8th, which still is an okay result with such tough mountain stage. König and Anacona hence on the podium.
Suaza up to 9th in the GC with his ride today ahead of Brajkovic with another top10 late in his career.
Rodrigues 11th ahead of Hacecky and then Ratiy on a good 13th for him.
But he is the winner. Kiserlovski celebrates the GC and delivered a huge result for Andorra.
