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TEAM MTN-QHUBEKA RETURN TO TOUR OF
TURKEY<
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[image:
Turkey 940]<
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*After debuting in the Tour of Turkey last year, Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b
Samsung will return to Turkey once again this year to start the nations
national tour.* The race will start on Sunday and is 8 stages long,
finishing on Sunday 4th of May. This UCI 2.HC event has become an important
fixture on the world cycling calendar attracting some of the biggest names
in world cycling, particularly the sprinters preparing for the Giro d'
Italia. This year Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma - QuickStep) , Andre Greipel
(Lotto-Belisol) and Theo Bos (Belkin) are some of the names to watch out
for.
The Tour of Turkey has been good to African riders of late with 2 riders,
Darryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge) and Natanael Berhane (Europcar) winning 2 of
the last 5 editions of this race. Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will be
sending a strong lineup that will be able to contest for the overall
classification as well still have a few options on the flat stages.
Linus Gerdemann and Merhawi Kudus will be the riders we will look to on the
hilly stages, hoping they will be able to achieve a good GC result.
Kristian Sbaragli and Youcef Reguigui provide the team with options on the
flatter stages while Johann van Zyl, Dennis van Niekerk, Martin Wesemann
and Ferekalsi Debesay complete the rest of our roster.
*Directeur Sportif - Manel Lacambra*
Like for all races we have come to Turkey with the intention of making it a
good race and getting some good results. We know there will be some of the
best sprinters in the world here but we will try to do well with young
Kristian when the stages finish in a sprint.
For the climbing stages we will try to play our cards with Merhawi and
Linus. This is a high level race but we have already shown that we can be
competitive at races like this. I have just come from Trentino and I hope
bring to Turkey the same good feelings we had there.
*Rider - Kristian Sbaragli*
The level of the sprints here are going to be really high with some of the
best sprinters in the world, i hope to do well. There are 2 stages where i
think i have a better chance because we should arrive with a smaller bunch
at the finish. If the legs are good then i hope to sprint for a top result.
The rest of the sprint stages we will have to have a bit of luck and fight
for a good position as they will be massive bunch sprints.
*Profiles Overview*
Stage 1 - Alanya > Alanya (144.7km)
*A flat stage that ends with a 4 lap circuit, a massive bunch sprint is
most likely.*
Stage 2 - Alanya > Kemer (174.2km)
*Another pan flat stage, definitely another one for the sprinters.*
Stage 3 - Finike > Elmali (184.7km)
*The queen stage, 3 massive climbs on route with the stage ending in a
summit finish. The true climbers will come to the fore here and the overall
race winner will most likely make it onto the podium today.*
Stage 4 - Fethiye > Marmaris (124.2km)
*A couple of short sharp climbs throughout the day could eliminate some of
the big sprinters but a fairly large group is still expected to arrive at
the finish together.*
Stage 5 - Marmaris > Turgutreis (177.3km)
*A few big climbs early on with a flat final 70km's might suit a breakaway
but if there are sprinters left in the peloton after the climbs they will
most likely ride for a sprint.*
Stage 6 - Bodrum > Selcuk (183.1km)
*A pretty long stage that ends with another summit finish. Although the
finishing climb isn't all that long it is quite steep, more of a stage for
the punchers than your outright climbers.*
Stage 7 - Kusadasi > Izmir (144.8km)
*An undulating course that shouldn't pose too many problems for everyone
left in the race at this point. A bug bunch sprint can be expected.*
Stage 8 - Istanbul > Istanbul (121km)
*Final stage is an 8 lap circuit race in Istanbul, should be a nice crowd
spectacle ending in high speed sprint finish.*
*Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey (Turkey) - (27 April - 4 May/UCI 2.HC)
Team Lineup*
[image: Turkey lineup] <
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Received on Sun Apr 27 2014 - 09:40:16 EDT