IZMIR, Turkey
British cyclist Mark Cavendish has won the seventh stage of the 51st Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, his third stage victory this week.
The 29-year-old racer for the Etixx - Quick-Step team won the 166 kilometers-long lap from Selcuk to Izmir in 3 hours, 59 minutes and 49 seconds, beating more than 160 other cyclists from 21 teams Saturday.
Following him was Italian Andrea Piechele, who races for the Bardiani – CSF team, while Italian Kristian Sbaragli, racing for MTN – Qhubeka, came in third.
Croatian cyclist Kristijan Durasek, racing for Lampre-Merida, remains leader in the Individual Overall Ranking. He wears the Turquoise Jersey, which is handed to the leader of the race.
Durasek’s time comes to 28 hours, 21 minutes and 23 seconds and he is followed by Italian Davide Rebellin racing for CCC Sprandi-Polkowice with a time of 28 hours 21minutes 44 seconds and Argentinian Eduardo Sepulveda, racing for Bretagne-Seche Environnement, is 15 seconds behind Rebellin.
The Green Jersey, which is given to the best sprinter, was handed to Italian Danielle Ratto from the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, as he came in with a total of 48 points.
Ratto had taken the Green Jersey from fellow citizen Sacha Modolo, who dropped to fourth place with 41 points.
In second place comes in Mark Cavendish – 46 points, while Manuel Beletti from the Southeast Pro Cycling Team comes in third with 44.
Meanwhile, Colombian Juan Pablo Valencia won the right to wear the Red Jersey, given to the leader in the Mountain Classification.
Spanish cyclist Luis Mas Bonet, racing for Caja Rural - Seguros RGA , boasted the White Jersey as leader in the Turkish Beauties Classification, which rewards the fastest cyclist in specific sprint challenges located in historic beautiful spots throughout the race.
Twenty one teams currently compete in eight stages of the 51st Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, which began last Sunday in Turkey's Mediterranean resort town of Alanya and will last until May 3.
The tour hosts some of the world’s elite competitors including British cyclist Mark Cavendish, who won the first two stages of the tour this year.
