Lonardi fifth again, with attacks by Álex Martín and Pietrobon in Turkey
The penultimate and hectic stage of the Tour of Turkey offered a high level spectacle with almost 120 kilometres of constant attacks without a breakaway, and a final climb in which first Álex Martín in the ascent and then Andrea Pietrobon on the descent moved ahead. The victory went to Jay Vine (UAE) who completed the final part alone, while Giovanni Lonardi avoiding the fall in the last turn to finish fifth.
A day without respite and with a very high average speed in the first two hours, above 46 km/h, which showed the ambition of everyone in the Tour of Turkey. Despite multiple attempts, no leading groups were formed. However, when the final climb came, Vine was the one to start and would not be caught by the main peloton until the finish in Izmir. Álex Martín tried to jump on his wheel on the climb, but was neutralised after two kilometres of pursuit. On the descent, Andrea Pietrobon went after the leading rider, but was caught with 10 kilometres to go.
A crash on the last turn disrupted the good work of EOLO KOMETA to place Giovanni Lonardi. They tried to pull themselves together on the finishing straight, with a sensational Mirco Maestri launching the finish and fifth place for Lona, while Maestri himself was ninth in the small group that escaped that final incident. It’s all down to tomorrow’s final stage in Istanbul.
Andrea Pietrobon: “Vine got away from us on the last climb, so we tried to go for him from the selected group that came up from behind. I went with Alleno (Burgos) but Vine was going very fast so we couldn’t catch him and finally I helped Lonardi to fight for the sprint”.
Jesús Hernández, sport director: “I am very satisfied that we not only looked for the sprint, but also that Álex Martín first and Pietrobon later tried to be protagonists and fight for their chances. The attitude has been magnificent, Lonardi has been helped in the final part and although we are never satisfied, seeing those who are ahead of us I think that EOLO KOMETA is in its place on a day like today, always aspiring for more”.
