Italian veteran takes Turquoise Jersey after first mountain stage.
For full stage results, click here or, after every stage, consult https://www.tourofturkey.org/2015/results
After every stage of the 2015 Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, you can download photos from this link; http://tourofturkey.org/photo
Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polowice) won Stage 3 of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey at Elmalı. He finished 7 seconds ahead of his breakaway companion, Kristijan Durasek (Lampre – Merida). Third was the Argentine rider Eduardo Sepúlveda (Bretagne – Séché Environnement), who conceded 50 seconds to the stage winner. Those three lead the new General Classification, with the Italian 43-year-old wearing the Turquoise Jersey of the race leader.
David Rebellin wins stage 3 at Elmalı (Click through for Hi Res. Photo credit: Tour of Turkey/Brian Hodes)
Stage 3: Kemer – Elmalı (165 km)
1. Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polowice), 165 km in 4h34m11s, Ave. km/h
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
General Classification:
1. Davide Rebellin (CCC Spaindi Polowice), 165 km in 4h34m11s, Ave. km/h
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 Sprandi 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)
Stage description
The race started In bright sunshine and warm, still conditions, and at high speed. Early attempts form the breakaway of the day spoke eloquently of the ambitions of some of the favourites: Serhiy Grechyn (Torku Şekerspor, dossard 205) chased by Jef Van Meirhaeghe of Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise, 176), Boris Vallée (Lotto Soudal, 37) and Frederic Brun (Bretagne – Séché Environnement, 82), perhaps thinking of their respective team leaders, all tried and failed to get away.
Before the mountain prize at 34.0 km, an early breakaway of 5 riders formed: Marco Bandiera (Androni Giocattoli, 62), José Gonçalves (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA, 94), Juan Pablo Valencia (Team Colombia, dossard 118), Samuel Spokes (Drapac Professional Cycling, 127) and Songezo Jim (MTN – Qhubeka, 134).
The mountain prize at 34.0 km (Cat. 2) ended:
1. Juan Pablo Valencia (Team Colombia, dossard 118) 5 pts
2. Songezo Jim (MTN – Qhubeka, 134) 3 pts
3. Samuel Spokes (Drapac Professional Cycling, 127) 2 pts
4. José Gonçalves (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA, 94) 1 pt
With this, the Colombian Valencia took the provisional lead in the mountains competition.
The intermediate sprint after 50 km sprint finished:
1. Samuel Spokes (Drapac Professional Cycling, 127) 5 pts.
2. Marco Bandiera (Androni Giocattoli, 62) 3 pts
3. Songezo Jim (MTN – Qhubeka, 134) 1 pt
The result was largely irrelevant for the points competition overall.
The 5 breakaway riders achieved a maximum lead of no more than 4m10s.
The Beauties of Turkey sprint at Arykanda (km 99) ended:
1. José Gonçalves (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA, 94) 5 pts
2. Songezo Jim (MTN – Qhubeka, 134) 3 pts
3. Juan Pablo Valencia (Team Colombia, 118) 1 pt
Gonçalves moved to within 3 pts of the competition leaders Mas and Zurlo.
The Category 1 climb at km 108.7, dedicated to the memory of former Turkish cycling champion Rifat Çalinskan, finished:
1. Juan Pablo Valencia (Team Colombia, 118) 10 pts
2. Songezo Jim (MTN – Qhubeka, 134) 7 pts
3. José Gonçalves (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA, 94) 5 pts
4. Davide Frattini (UnitedHealthcare, 184) 3 pts
5. Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff – Saxo, 13) 1 pt
Valencia added to his lead in the mountains competition: he now lay first, with 15 pts, with Jim in second place with 10 pts, and Gonçalves third with 6 pts.
The beauty of Turkey, and of cycling (Click through for Hi Res. Photo credit: Tour of Turkey/Brian Hodes)
The remains of the early breakaway ended at km 126, when seven riders, including Tom Boonen (Etixx – Quick Step, 2) and Thomas De Gent (Lotto Soudal, 35), joined the three remaining leaders. Before the more general regrouping occurred, three riders from this leading 10-man group escaped: Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff – Saxo, 13), Youcef Reguigui (MTN – Qhubeka, 136) and Jelle Wallays (Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise, 178).
Those three were caught by the peloton, numbering in the region of 50 riders, with 11 km to go. With 9 km to go, as the peloton thinned, Lluis Mas (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA, 96), wearing the White Jersey of the leader in the Beauties of Turkey sprints competition, attacked. His attacked was neutralised with 7 km to go. Heiner Parra (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA, 97) and Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polowice,106) then attacked. Kristijan Durasek (Lampre – Merida, 21) joined them, to form a leading trio, with Enrico Barbin (Bardiani – CSF Pro Team, 151) and Jay McCarthy (Tinkoff – Saxo, 15) giving chase. There were still 6.5 km to go. Parra was then dropped by Duresek and Rebellin, and tagging onto Barbin and McCarthy.
The two leaders, however, were too strong, and Rebellin, with his fast finish, sealed victory, with Durasek second.