Luca Wackermann shines on the climb in the toughest stage

56º Presidential Tour of Turkey
Stage 5: Kemer – Göğübeli / Elmali (160,3 km)

The beauty of the mountains, the fascination of fatigue, the essence of cycling. The Tour of Turkey gave fans its toughest and most spectacular day, with the uphill finish in Elmali and its dramatic sporting epilogue with the victory of Spaniard Jose Manuel Diaz, who was able to catch an exhausted Anton Charming just a few metres from the finish, who had tried a personal action.

A day to remember, however, also for the Eolo-Kometa. It began with the news of Manuel Belletti’s withdrawal due to the consequences of yesterday’s crash, and ended with the beautiful performance of Luca Wackermann who was splendid in staying – he who is not a climber – with the best riders until three kilometres from the end. An important injection of confidence for a rider who has been very unlucky in recent months, and who needs to regain condition and optimism.

Today, another eventful stage: from Fethiye to Marmaris, 129,1 km with some climbs that could make some selection.

Luca Wackermann: “This morning the plan for the race was to try to do the best I could, to work hard and see where my condition was. After a great work of the team I was alone with the group of the best of about ten units but not being a pure climber I suffered in the last three kilometres when I had to break away and go at my own pace. If I hadn’t had that month off, it might have gone better: but I’m happy with my condition because it’s growing stage by stage. The other guys are also growing, we’re a good group: there are three more stages, some of them are tough, we’ll try to get results in these last three days”.

[ Yücel Yüksek / Presidential Tour of Turkey]