Rolling out from Selçuk (Efes) this morning, a 156 kilometre long parcours awaited the peloton as they tackled a few rolling hills and one main KOM before the flatter finale in Alaçatı. It was an attacking start to the day, with the bunch still all together after the opening 20 kilometres before a group of eight managed to establish itself out front, while all Team DSM riders stayed in the peloton, looking to conserve energy for the finale.

As the kilometres ticked by the breakaway were slowly reeled in and over the top of the climb with 30 kilometres to go it was all back together. A nervousness swirled in the air, replicating the swirling winds above the bunch as the threat of crosswinds loomed large, where a few unfortunate crashes saw Sam Welsford caught up, before he remounted and rejoined the back of the peloton.

Any splits caused by the wind reformed and the team did a really good job to find each other as a group, moving forward to the front of the peloton en masse with around ten kilometres to go. Peeling off one-by-one, the team delivered finisher Cees Bol into a good position as the bunch charged under the flamme rouge, with Bol placed in around sixth wheel. The pace stalled somewhat and riders surged from behind, but coming around the final corner Bol opened up his sprint, producing a good turn of speed to take a fine fourth place finish at the line.

Speaking at the finish Bol said: “There was a lot of headwind at the start today but later on we had some hectic moments with crosswind danger. We took the initiative in the finale which was really motivating. We lost each other for a little while so thats still a big improvement point but we fought back well and Alberto brought me into a good position in the last corner, and from there I could do the sprint. All in all, I think we showed good fighting spirit today and I had good sensations in the legs, so we will take that with us going into the next days.”