http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/14430/Tour-of-Turkey-Natnael-Berhane-climbs-into-the-race-lead-on-Gogubeli-queen-stage.aspx
http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2698/Sport/article/detail/3430582/2013/04/23/Renner-uit-Eritrea-wint-bergetappe-in-Turkije.dhtml
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Tour of Turkey: Natnael Berhane climbs into the race lead on Göğübeli queen stage
By Ben Atkins
Eritrean sprints away from a four man group to take the stage and turquoise jersey
Natnael Berhane (Europcar) took a sensational first victory of 2013 in the third stage of the Presidential Tour of Turkey, between Antalya and the super-steep climb to the top of the Göğübeli Pass, above the town of Elmali. The Eritrean neo-pro was the best of a four man group that formed in the final uphill kilometres of the stage, managing to tear himself clear at the third time of asking, with just 200 metres to go.
Having freed himself of his three companions, the African champion sprinted up the steep straight to cross the 1850-metre-high finish line alone.
Kevin Seeldraeyers (Astana) won the slow-motion sprint for second place, ahead of mountains jersey wearer Mustafa Sayar (Torku Seker Spor), six seconds behind Berhane, with the fourth member of the group, Maxime Mederel (Sojasun) crossing the line after 16 seconds.
The time gap, along with the time bonus on the line, saw Berhane move into the race leader’s turquoise jersey, taking it from the back of sprinter André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) who had been left behind on the climb.
The 153.5km stage featured a break from Clément Koretzky (Bretagne-Séché), Jaroslav Marycz (CCC Polsat Polkowice), Björn Thurau (Europcar), Mauro Finetto (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia) and Sergiy Gretchyn (Torku Seker Spor), who escaped on the first big climb of the day. The six-man group was only able get a maximum of 4’45” clear of the peloton, before being steadily pulled back.
One by one the group’s numbers dropped on the approach to the final climb until only Thurau, Finetto and Gretchyn remained; successive accelerations from Thurau dropped Finetto and then Gretchyn, however, and saw the German go alone with ten kilometres to go.
The German son of the former World champion was only a few seconds clear by now though, and attack from Serge Pauwels (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) burst past him in the final seven kilometres. The Belgian managed to get away, but was in turn overtaken by compatriot Seeldraeyers and Berhane; those two were joined in the final two kilometres by Sayar, Mederel, Darwin Atapuma (Colombia) and Angelo Pagani (Bardiani-CSF)
The pace set by Sayar was too much for Bardiani and Atapuma, but the others managed to hold on to him on the super-steep gradient. The final kilometre saw attacks, first from Sayar, then three times from Berhane, with the third one - with 200 metres to go - finally seeing the Eritrean break free to take victory.
More details and reactions to follow
Result stage 3
1. Natnael Berhane (Eri) Team Europcar
2. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Team Astana _at_ 6s
3. Mustafa Sayar (Tur) Torku Seker Spor
4. Maxime Mederel (Fra) Sojasun _at_ 16s
5. Yoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis @ 24s
6. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
7. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
8. Florian Guillou (Fra) Bretagne-Séché Environment @ 28s
9. John Darwin Atapuma (Col) Colombia @ 30s
10. Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis @ 33s
Standings after stage 3
1. Natnael Berhane (Eri) Team Europcar
2. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Team Astana @ 10s
3. Mustafa Sayar (Tur) Torku Seker Spor @ 12s
4. Maxime Mederel (Fra) Sojasun @ 26s
5. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ 34s
6. Yoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis
7. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
8. Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) Cofidis @ 38s
9. John Darwin Atapuma (Col) Colombia @ 40s
10. Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis @ 43s
Read more:
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/14430/Tour-of-Turkey-Natnael-Berhane-climbs-into-the-race-lead-on-Gogubeli-queen-stage.aspx#ixzz2RIVKakY3
Received on Tue Apr 23 2013 - 12:11:03 EDT
