Cycling: After six stages, the Tour of Turkey ended today in Istanbul. Diego Ulissi (UAE) can be happy about the overall victory. Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe), on the other hand, will be a bit sad. The Irishman fell today and even lost the jersey of the best sprinter despite four stage wins. The last day's win went to Belgian Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo).
Surprise attack of the sprinters
For the first time this year, the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey 2017 was held as part of the UCI WorldTour. Despite a rather moderate cast, the tour presented itself as an exciting multi-day stage race. Diego Ulissi has won one section so far, Sam Bennett four. Today the sprinters should get their chance again at the end, because Muhammet Atalay (Turkish national team), Patryk Stosz (CCC Sprandi-Polkowice), Thomas Deruette (WB-Veranclassic) and Paolo Simion (Bardiani-CSF) failed to break away should. The top sprinters still surprised, however, because they attacked together a few kilometers from the finish on a climb after the field had been divided by a fall. Edward Theuns, Sam Bennett and teammate Matteo Pelucchi were able to pull away.
#pot @tourofturkeyTUR @Pelucchi_Matteo finished second, unfortunately @Sammmy_Be lost the sprint jersey.
photo: @MarioStiehl pic.twitter.com/1KOmvA7LlX- BORA - hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) 15 October 2017
Sam Bennett crashes and even loses green
The sprinter trio was caught by the peloton before the last corner. Also because the two pilots from Bora-hansgrohe were of course ordered to work by Theuns. At the last change of direction, Sam Bennett's bike slipped and the Irishman fell. Twice as bitter: Not only did his chances of winning another stage gone, but Edward Theuns' victory also stripped him of the green jersey. Matteo Pelucchi still tried to beat the Belgian in a duel, but he had the better position and in the end simply the faster legs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWH1TeP0LBE
Diego Ulissi celebrates overall victory in the Tour of Turkey
Theuns was particularly happy after the race, because in his farewell race for Trek-Segafredo he still secured a stage win in Turkey: “To be honest, I expected the final to be a bit more difficult. My team did a great job and I also have to thank Sam Bennett, who also took the lead. He then drove a little too fast into the last corner and crashed. I was able to close the gap to Pelucchi and win – and that was in my last race for Trek-Segafredo.” Despite all the fuss, overall leader Diego Ulissi was completely safe. The Italian wins the Tour of Turkey twelve seconds ahead of Jesper Hansen (Astana) and 24 ahead of Fausto Masnada (Androni-Sidermec-Bottecchia).
#ciclismo #PCTOT2017 🚴 Diego Ulissi🇮🇹 it el ganador de #TUR2017. 2º Jesper Hansen🇩🇰 and 3º Fausto Masnada🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/aH71jEybbm
— elSuperHincha (@elSuperHincha) 15 October 2017