Mark Cavendish won the opening stage of this year’s 2014 Presidential Tour of Turkey, in a sprint finish ahead of Elia Viviani and Theo Bos.
Cavendish profited from his teammate’s hard work, as the Manxman found himself perfectly positioned to power around the outside of other sprinters to cross the finish line by a clear margin.
As a result of today’s victory, Cavendish assumed possession of the race leader’s jersey.
Cavendish had these things to say – prior to the tart of today’s stage.
What’s your condition like? “I’ve been training a few weeks so I’m not in top form but I’ve been putting on form. I’ve been doing gym work too. Everybody had the problems I had at some time this year so it’s unfortunate but I’m soon going to be back in shape. It was a stomach virus, I think most riders, most people have had it.
You have an impressive team around you here? What is the plan? We brought a strong team here but we have a strong team most of all this year at Omega Pharma Quick Step with Petacchi, Steegmans, Renshaw and Keisse who won stages here and also with Gianni Meersman and Petr Vakoc. We have an incredible team here and I’m excited to ride. Now for the rest of the season, we’ll see what happens, the team will be very, vey flexible like my program this year with this long break, I hope to have people around me to travel with me to the different races that I want to go to.
How does it feel to be back in action after a month off the bike? I’m excited to try and do my best. I’m happy to be racing, I’m excited to be racing again. I really am, I miss racing.
And how about your new look? I’ve just been too lazy to shave the beard off. I might shave it off tonight.
Had you been to Turkey before? It’s my first time in Turkey but my mother spends holidays here every year."
Stage 1 Results GBR 1 CAVENDISH, Mark (OMEGA PHARMA – QUICK-STEP) 3:15:43 ITA 2 VIVIANI, Elia (CANNONDALE) NED 3 BOS, Theo (BELKIN) ITA 4 BONIFAZIO, Niccolo (LAMPRE – MERIDA) BEL 5 VAN STAEYEN, Michael (TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE) ITA 6 PALINI, Andrea (LAMPRE – MERIDA) ITA 7 NAPOLITANO, Danilo (WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT) BEL 8 VANGENECHTEN, Jonas (LOTTO BELISOL) ITA 9 GUARDINI, Andrea (ASTANA) ITA 10 SBARAGLI, Kristian (MTN – QHUBEKA) NED 11 WIPPERT, Wouter (DRAPAC) BEL 12 SALOMEIN, Jarl (TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE) ITA 13 PERON, Andrea (NOVO NORDISK) USA 14 HANSON, Ken (UNITEDHEALTHCARE) BEL 15 VERHELST, Louis (COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS) USA 16 MURPHY, John (UNITEDHEALTHCARE) ALG 17 REGUIGUI, Youcef (MTN – QHUBEKA) TUR 18 ORKEN, Ahmet (TORKU SEKERSPOR) NED 19 VERSCHOOR, Martijn (NOVO NORDISK) FRA 20 LEFRANCOIS, Nicolas (NOVO NORDISK)
General Classification after Stage 1 GBR 1 CAVENDISH, Mark (OMEGA PHARMA – QUICK-STEP) 3:15:43 ITA 2 VIVIANI, Elia (CANNONDALE) NED 3 BOS, Theo (BELKIN) ITA 4 BONIFAZIO, Niccolo (LAMPRE – MERIDA) BEL 5 VAN STAEYEN, Michael (TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE) ITA 6 PALINI, Andrea (LAMPRE – MERIDA) ITA 7 NAPOLITANO, Danilo (WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT) BEL 8 VANGENECHTEN, Jonas (LOTTO BELISOL) ITA 9 GUARDINI, Andrea (ASTANA) ITA 10 SBARAGLI, Kristian (MTN – QHUBEKA)
About the TUR
The Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey (TUR) started in 1963 with the name of "Marmara Tour", gained international status in 1965 for the first time and was taken under the auspices of Presidential authority in 1966. On its 50th anniversary the competition will be held on April 27-May 4, 2014 in 8 stages starting from Alanya, proceeding along the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts. Istanbul will be home to the spectacular finish.
The world’s sole "transcontinental cycling tour" will witness the high-level competition of world-renowned athletes and teams. The slogan this year is "50 Years of Cycling Passion". The Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey which has been reaching a wide access network throughout the world via live and recorded broadcasts by means of prestigious national and international channels in more than 150 countries since 2008, stands out as a global organization that serves as a model of Turkey’s sports organization experience. With its deep-rooted history, its contributions to the development of the sport of cycling and the promotion of tourism in Turkey through TV broadcasts, the organization continues to be a success story for our country.
Stages
Leader Jerseys
Leader jerseys find their owners according to the scores gained at the premium gates through each stages. The athlete at the first rank in leader jerseys classification at the end of every stage begins the next stage with the leader jersey and aims to keep the jersey till the end of the TUR.
Turquoise Jersey
Turkish blue Turquoise which is derived from the pronunciation of the word Turk in French and which is the colour of the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts is also the colour of the Leader jersey as the institutional colour of the TUR.
White Jersey
White Jersey with the premium gates through which historical and natural richness of Turkey is carried to the screens as Beauties of Turkey are being highlighted are carried to the podium on the leader of the premium gates at the end of every stage.
Red Jersey
Red Jersey with the best climber premium gates with which the King of the Mountains is determined by the climbing performance of the riders.
Green Jersey
Green Jersey with the sprint gates which witness the struggle among the strongest sprinters.
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