Davide Ballerini (XDS-Astana) claimed his first victory in additional than three years on stage 7 of the Tour of Turkey, triumphing within the rain on a day that noticed sure features of the stage neutralised.
There was rain all day in Antalya, location of the beginning and the end of Saturday’s 152.8km stage, which, given the relative rarity of rainfall, made the city-centre roads treacherously slippery. That a lot was clear as early because the opening kilometres, when the riders needed to take a slight left-hand bend over a set of tram tracks, and half the peloton ended up on the ground.
In the long run, after prolonged mid-race discussions, the race organisers determined to neutralise the ultimate 15km from a normal classification perspective, that means GC occasions could be taken at that time, simply forward of a descent down into Antalya. As well as, there could be no bonus seconds on supply on the intermediate sprints or the end line.
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As such, Sebastian Berwick’s total lead was comparatively secure from assault, and his closest rival Ivan Sosa drifted off the again of the bunch for a simple run-in.
Though there was no GC battle, that was at all times prone to be a side-issue on a day anticipated to finish in a bunch dash, and that eventuality was allowed to play out in full drive.
There have been a few mishaps on the run-in however no crashes, and it was Ballerini who surged up the right-hand facet of the highway from far again to say a victory that clearly meant rather a lot to him, by the way in which he celebrated.
He was adopted throughout the road by two riders who left it even later. Marceli Boguslawski (ATT Investments) was approaching on the correct however could not get there in time, whereas two-time stage winner Tom Crabbe (Flanders-Baloise) was advancing with even larger pace however began from too far again and needed to accept third place.
Total, Berwick takes a five-second lead over Sosa into Sunday’s closing stage, which can be prone to culminate in a bunch dash.
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