Team UAE Emirates rider Diego Ulissi of Italy finds himself as the overall race leader after completing stage four, the first mountain stage of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey in 5 hours 36 minutes and 03 seconds. With the win Ulissi will wear the race leaders Turquoise Jersey on Saturday and he was quoted saying ‘Tomorrow I will wear the classification leader’s jersey it would be great and gratifying to be able to wear it until the end of the race‘.
The 53rd edition of the Turkish road cycling race is being held between 10 October and 15 October. A particularly proud year for the host, Republic of Turkey as it is the first time the race is part of the UCI World Tour calendar.
First established in 1963 and originally named The Tour of Marmara (after the sea bordering Istanbul) the event gained international recognition in 1966 and subsequently re-named Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey. 2006 saw the tour elevated to 2.2 and 2008 to 2.1. category and finally in 2010 to Hors Category (2.HC) by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Commonly known as UCI, the world governing body for sports cycling oversees international competitions and is based in Switzerland.
The arduous 4th stage between Marmaris and Selçuk lasting 205.3-km was a stark contrast to the mostly flat stages during the previous three days. As expected, Ulissi did not disappoint, managing to win on the day and take the overall race lead with the summit finish.
Cycling is a team sport and UAE Team Emirates showed what a team sport it was indeed. Putting their efforts behind Ulissi throughout the day, protecting the Italian on the 4th stage and all the way up to the final climb where he had the chance to sprint away. As the end neared Ulissi accelerated from his near rivals Jesper Hansen of Team Astana and Daniel Martinez of Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia. Team UAE Emirates strategy paid off, leaving Hansen to settle at second place with a gap of five seconds and Martinez in third a further four seconds adrift. The World Tour-level race continues today (14 October) and will conclude on Sunday 15th October.
This is Ulissi’s second WorldTour win of the season, having already won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal in September.
Current result as of 14.10.2017 09:00 UAE time.
Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey 2017, stage four: Marmaris to Selçuk, 205.3km
1. Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, in 5-36-03
2. Jesper Hansen (Den) Astana, at 5 secs
3. Daniel Martinez (Col) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia, at 9 secs
4. Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni-Sidermec-Bottecchia, at 11 secs
5. Yonder Godoy (Ven) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia, at 17 secs
6. Ildar Arslanov (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo, at same time
7. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Androni-Sidermec-Bottecchia, at 32 secs
8. Gregor Mühlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe, at same time
9. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) UAE Team Emirates, at 34 secs
10. Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana, at 37 secs
General classification after stage four
1. Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, in 19-00-50
2. Jesper Hansen (Den) Astana, at 12 secs
3. Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni-Sidermec-Bottecchia, at 24 secs
4. Daniel Martinez (Col) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia, at 29 secs
5. Yonder Godoy (Ven) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia, at 30 secs
6. Ildar Arslanov (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo, at 30 secs
7. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Androni-Sidermec-Bottecchia, at 42 secs
8. Gregor Mühlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 45 secs
9. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) UAE Team Emirates, at 47 secs
10. Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana, at 50 secs
By: Alp Sarper
