Caleb Ewan powers to uphill stage victory at Tour of Turkey
 

After already taking the opening stage, Lotto Soudal rider Caleb Ewan has now also won the sixth stage at the Tour of Turkey. On a short but tough uphill finish in Eceabat – a town on the Gallipoli peninsula – the Australian finished off an impressive team effort with a powerful sprint. It was Jasper De Buyst who guided Ewan perfectly towards the final uphill slopes. The Australian took over the lead at 100 metres to go, did not let go of it and secured the fourth stage victory of his career at the Tour of Turkey.

On the sixth day of racing at the Tour of Turkey, the punchers got their chance to shine. At the end of a 200 kilometres long stage, a short but tricky uphill finished awaited on the peninsula of Gallipoli. After the last escapees were caught at ten kilometres from the finish, a furious pace took the peloton to the foot of the finishing climb, where Israel-Premier Tech imposed a tight tempo. With three riders – Michael Schwarzmann, Harm Vanhoucke and Jasper De Buyst – Lotto Soudal protected its sprinter perfectly at the front positions of the stretched-out bunch.

With just over a kilometre to go, Lotto Soudal took over control and delivered Caleb Ewan to the line. Jasper De Buyst produced another impressive lead-out, while Ewan launched his typical acceleration uphill to take victory on stage six of the Tour of Turkey. Jasper Philipsen and Danny Van Poppel finished second and third, respectively.

“This stage was another big opportunity that we wanted to take with both hands. Three years ago I still came short to fight for victory on this uphill finish but since then I’ve become a stronger rider and a better climber”, says Caleb Ewan.

“Again I need to say a big thank you to my teammates. I’m really impressed with the way they guided me to the finish today. Their work makes me really proud and it feels so good to finish it off today. The wind was an important factor in the last kilometres. It was a block headwind so I definitely didn’t want to start my sprint too early so not to be surpassed in the final metres. I really had to time my sprint to perfection and I’m happy that I could maintain my effort until the finish, securing my second stage win here this year. And to do so in Gallipoli, an important place in Australian history, makes it extra special”, the pocket sprinter concluded.

 Image: Photo News.