Natnael Berhane fastest climber on Tour of Turkey's mountainous third stage

ISTANBUL

Kevin Seeldraeyers of Astana and Mutafa Sayar of Turkey’s Torku Şekerspor followed the winner of the day, Natnael Berhane. AA photo

Natnael Berhane of Europcar won the mountainous third leg of the 49th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey April 23, one day after a massive accident that left three riders off the starting lineup. The 154-kilometer route ended in an approximately 10 kilometer long finishing hill with some riders failing to follow the group.

Kevin Seeldraeyers of Astana and Mutafa Sayar of Turkey’s Torku Şekerspor followed Berhane respectively.

“It’s the biggest stage at the Tour of Turkey, and it’s magnificent to win,” Berhane said on the Eurosport broadcast.

Berhane had joined the leading group of four only three kilometers from the finish line, winning the race with an attack only in the last few hundred meters. 

The race will continue today with the 147-kilometer fourth stage between Göcek and Marmaris, two Mediterranean tourism destinations. 

Second day's crash

Meanwhile, Mark Renshaw of Blanco suffered a concussion and fractured collarbone in a crash on the second day, according to Velo magazine. 

The Australian rider crashed heavily in a large pile-up. “I saw a lot of riders around me falling down. It’s very sad,” said Aidis Kruopis of Orica-Greenedge, who came first on the first day, in an interview published on the official website of the race. “But I managed to pass the guys. There were five guys before me, and I started sprinting. I caught every one of them, then I caught the last one. Yesterday the team was working for Leigh Howard and today we worked for me. Leigh put me in a good position, he brought me to the top 10 and I did my job,” he said.
 
“My form was not very good and I had bad luck in the Tour of Qatar and in Malaysia. I had hoped to perform much better. I was lucky that I didn’t crash but you also need some skills to avoid crashes. I was lucky but I was also strong. It will give me a lot of confidence to have beaten [Andre] Greipel, one of the best sprinters in the world.”

Bardiani Valvole’s Marco Coledan, who managed to come right behind Kruopis, said: “I was leading out for [Sacha] Modolo, who was just behind me and was caught in the crash. Fortunately, he has nothing serious. When I found myself in the lead unwittingly, I went straight down the line. I was a perfect target for the other riders who avoided the crash. I gave it my all to finish second. It’s a good place for me, but I’m sorry for the ones who crashed.”