Andre Greipel was delighted with his latest victory in the 51st Presidential Tour Of Turkey.
The German who rides for Lotto Soudal took the win in a sprint in Marmaris on Stage Four and told the Tour Of Turkey press office: "The first two days are spent cruising around. Everyone is fresh at the finish and everyone can sprint. But I like this kind of finish. It’s hard just before the finish. We had a good plan, and I think it’s a deserved win.
"The breakaway was 5 or 6 guys, and they had a big gap, but the team was pulling to keep them within striking distance. De Gendt was one of the riders who worked hard until 2 km to go, then Adam Hansen did a big pull to bring the attackers back, and Jasper de Buyst set me up for the sprint.
"I just tried to have a free wheel, to set my sprint. I had to go early, but it was a good, long, fast sprint.
Also speaking about the stage was Mark Cavendish who said: "We knew it was going to be hard. The racing over the last climb was harder than last year. Perhaps we were too motivated. The team pulled to close the gap in the second from last climb, and then, in the last 5-600m of the final climb, riding into the headwind, we just missed it. Perhaps we were overconfident, pushing more than 300W in the 10km before the climb. But that’s life, we gave it our best shot."
When asked about his targets for the rest of the race, Cavendish said: "Tomorrow’s sprint, and then we have a good team for the last stage, which has changed for last year. It suits us down to the ground. I’m here to pick up stages and build my form."
Daniele Colli (Nippo-Vini Fantini), 2nd in the stage said: "Everyone wanted to be on André Greipel’s wheel, but he went early. When I started my sprint, I was already several lengths behind. He was impossible to beat. I knew the stage finish at Marmaris because I finished third here three years ago. I’m happy. We are a small team, and we'retaking on some big names here. After this race, I’ll go to the the Giro d’Italia to help Cunego.
Daniele Ratto (UnitedHealthcare), 3rd in the stage said to the Tour Of Turkey Press Office: "Let’s just say it was a lively sprint. I found Colli’s wheel at the last moment, and he was on Greipel’s wheel. Catching Greipel was in the realm of the impossible. I rode as hard as I could today. I’ve never had a team work for me the way UnitedHealthcare did today. I had one or two doubts about my condition after yesterday’s stage, but all my team-mates stayed around me and helped me all the way to the end. I have to thank them because, without them. I would have given up very early on in the sprint."
Result, Stage 4 - Fethiye - Marmaris
1. André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) 132km in 3h22’08”, ave. speed 39.182 kmh
2. Daniele Colli (Nippo - Vini Fantini) s.t.
3. Daniele Ratto (UnitedHealthcare) s.t.
4. Magnus Cort Nielsen (Orica- GreenEdge) s.t.
5. Manuel Belletti (Southeast) s.t.
General Classification (unchanged from Stage 3)
1. Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprindi Polowice)
2. Kristijan Durasek (Lampre - Merida) at 7s
3. Eduardo Sepúlveda (Bretagne - Séché Environnement) at 50s
4. Jay McCarthy (Tinkoff - Saxo) at 1m20s
5. Serge Pauwels (MTN - Qhubeka) at 1m23s
Jerseys
Turquoise, sponsored by Spor Toto (General Classification): Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprindi Polowice)
Green, Salcano (Points): Mark Cavendish (Etixx - Quick Step)
Red, Turkish Airlines (Mountains): Juan Pablo Valencia (Team Colombia)
White, Vestel (Beauties of Turkey): Lluis Mas (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA)
Source: DSG
