PRESIDENTIAL TOUR OF TURKEY: ULISSI WINS DECISIVE MOUNTAIN FINISH
UAE Team Emirates star outsprints Jesper Hansen and Daniel Martínez to take race lead
Full official results, rider quotes, photography, race report

Selçuk, 13 October – Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) won the mountainous Turkish Airlines Marmaris-Selçuk stage 4 of the 2017 Presidential Tour of Turkey today, taking the Spor Toto Turquoise jersey of the overall race leader.

Ulissi, with a final kick everyone feared, darted away to take the stage win, with Jesper Hansen (Astana Pro Team) second and 21-year-old Daniel Martínez (Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia), one of the revelations of this late season, in third place.

Danilo Celano (Caja Rural – RGA Seguros) took the lead in the Turkish Airlines Red Jersey competition for the best climber, Former mountains leader Mirco Maestri ((Bardiani-CSF) and Celano are equal on points in, with Celano leading by virtue of having won the only first category climb of the race.

To download full results, click here.

All photography, credit Brian Hodes / VeloImages

Turkish Airlines Marmaris-Selçuk Stage 4 summary result

1. Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) 5h 36m 03s

2. Jesper Hansen (Astana Pro Team) +0:05s 

3. Daniel Martínez (Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia) +0:09s

Spor Toto Turquoise jersey Summary standings

1. Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates)

2. Jesper Hansen (Astana Pro Team) +0:12 

3. Fausto Masnada (Androni–Sidermec–Bottecchia) +0:24

Jerseys

Spor Toto Turquoise jersey: overall race leader: Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates)

Turkish Airlines Red Jersey: mountain classification leader: Danilo Celano (Caja Rural – RGA Seguros)

Vestel White Jersey: Beauties of Turkey classification leader: Onur Balkan (Turkish national team)

Salcano Green Jersey: points classification leader: Sam Bennett (BORA-Hansgrohe)

Rider quotes

Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates): winner, Turkish Airlines Marmaris-Selçuk stage 4, and Spor Toto Turquoise jersey (overall race leader):

How important is this win?

It is an important win because we wanted this, we wanted to do well here s a team. We have done a very good end of season. For my part, I wanted to end it well. Patly, I'm doing so. Today I wa=on a really beautiful stage. We have the leader's jersey now and we'll try and defend it to the end.

How did the final climb go?

I knew that on a finish like this everyone would look to us to take control. My team mates did a big job today. In the end, I was afraid that there would be little selection. Niemiec did a great job towards the end and in the final km I managed to do a good sprint. There weren't many of us.

What would it mean to you to win here overall?

It would be really important for me, the team. It's an important stage race, I remember when I was very young I was here [Ed. 2010). My friend Visconti won here, Giovanni! I have a wonderful memory of this race because it was one of my first pro races. I really enjoyed it. When the team said to me that we had to go to Turkey and do well, I was immediately happy. Today, I've won a beautiful stage.

When did you know you would win?

I had some very motivated rivals, some of them with 2 or 3 team-mates around them. I was a bit apprehensive because, with so many riders at the finish, someone can always slip away. But Niemiec did a great job and in the end there weren't many of us left. On these stages like this, I'm pretty explosive.

What does this win mean after a hard year?

Yes, a tiring year. I closed my calendar a bit. I didn't do the Giro d'Italia in order to ride the Tour de France, where I was looking for a stage win. It still sticks in my craw that I didn't win it. But in the World Tour, my condition was good. I had great form in Montreal, and next I hope to close the season with overall victory here.

Jesper Hansen (Astana Pro Team), second in the stage:

How was the final climb?

It was really intensive, and it was only 4 km so it was full gas all the way. It was just full, full, full, then in the end Ulisssi had a good sprint. That's why I tried a bit earlier to attack him, but he was too strong. I knew that if we went together to the finish line with him, he would beat me so I had to try, and I tried and then he was just better.

Do you ever get the chance to see the scenery?

The stage was very long today, so a lot of time just staying on the wheel, and you like right and left and it's a beautiful country. Especially with the sea, it's very beautiful.

How was the run in to the final climb?

The second last climb was not so hard because you had a head wind so it was easiest to stay on the wheels. There was a great big group approaching the last climb. I had a really good position when we turned left: I was almost at the front, whichwas perfect, so I could save energy in the first part because I didn't have to fight to get back and position myself, so everything was good today.

Daniel Martinez (Wilier Triestina–Selle Italia), third in the stage: “It’s a good result. Before the climb, my feelings weren’t the best. But once I could see the final climb, my legs were suddenly better and I finished third. Nobody is unbeatable but today Ulissi has something more than the rest of us. He deserves the win. I’m still young. For sure, this third place here today not far behind a rider with the class of Ulissi is pretty satisfying and it’s a good confidence booster for the next season [with EF Education First formerly known as Cannondale-Drapac].”

Sam Bennett (BORA Hansgrohe), Salcano Green Jersey (points classification leader): “I thought I’d go a little bit better. The climb at the beginning was just too much. Mainly the hat was getting to me. I couldn’t deal with it and I was getting dropped. My power wasn’t super high but I was just overheating. At the end, I was getting better but the damage was already done. I would have liked to do a bit better, maybe try and stay close to the jersey and get it back through winning another stage in a sprint. It wasn’t to be.”

Danilo Celano (Caja Rural – RGA Seguros), Turkish Airlines Red Jersey (mountain classification leader) Danilo Celano: “I got the opportunity to make the break. It went pretty well. It was a very hard stage. I felt strong in the first climb. The Bardiani rider was up there with us to protect the red jersey. I won the first KOM but the second was more difficult. The peloton was already riding at a high speed towards the finish. We had been caught and the leader [Mirco Maestri] was much fresher than me. But I tried and I managed to get the position I needed for taking the lead. I’ve recovered well from the bronchitis I got in the Italian classics. The good weather here helped. After three days of racing under the sun, the legs seem to go better. With the team, we’ll try to retain this jersey till the end of the TUR.”

Onur Balkan (Turkish national team), Vestel White Jersey (“Beauties of Turkey” classification leader): “The first part of the race went all according to our plan. Our goal was to have someone in the breakaway and win the Turkish beauties sprint and that’s what happened. I have had the white jersey for four days now, I hope to keep it till we finish the race in Istanbul, inch allah.”

Turkish Airlines Marmaris Selçuk Stage 4, Report

The peloton, still 99 riders strong, past kms 0 at 11.18. The first Category 1 climb of this year's TUR started 1.5 km later. Attacks came quick and fast. The first two riders to establish an identifiable lead were 117 Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF) and 121 Davide Ballerini (Androni – Sidermec – Bottecchia). They were joined by 51 Danilo Celano (Caja Rural – RGA Seguros) before another group of three – 6 Feritcan Samli (Turkish national team), 88 Alberto Cecchin (Wilier Triestina – Selle Italia) and 108 Ludovic Robeet (WB Veranclassic Aquality Protect) darted out of the peloton in pursuit.

The two groups came together and after 17 km led the peloton by 2 minutes 48 seconds.

The 6-man breakaway of the day, in order:

117 Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF) 32s

121 Davide Ballerini (Androni – Sidermec – Bottecchia) 43s

51 Danilo Celano (Caja Rural – RGA Seguros) 1m20s

6 Feritcan Samli (Turkish national team) 8m 23s

88 Alberto Cecchin (Wilier Triestina – Selle Italia) 6m28s

108 Ludovic Robeet (WB Veranclassic Aquality Protect) 10m 09s

Alessandro Tonelli was thus the virtual race leader from early in the breakaway attempt.

After 23 km, their lead was 3 minutes 14 seconds.

After 25km, their lead was 3 minutes 23 seconds.

Km 35.5: Category 1 climb (Turkish Airlines Red Jersey competition):

1. (10 pts) 51 Danilo Celano (Caja Rural – RGA Seguros)

2. (7 pts) 117 Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF)

3. (5 pts) 88 Alberto Cecchin (Wilier Triestina – Selle Italia)

4. (3 pts) 121 Davide Ballerini (Androni – Sidermec – Bottecchia)

5. (1 pt) 6 Feritcan Samli (Turkish national team)

Those 10 points, Celano's first of the race, gave him the lead in the Turkish Airlines Red Jersey competition, one point ahead of the overnight leader Mirco Maestri (Bardiani-CSF).

After 55 km, the peloton was shadowing the leaders at 3 minutes. After 90 km, the gap had come down to 2 minutes 30 seconds. At km 93, it was down to 2 minutes 10 seconds, and by km 105 it was 1 minute 52 seconds.

At km 113.1: Intermediate sprint (Salcano Green Jersey competition)

1. (5 pts, 3 secs) 121 Davide Ballerini (Androni – Sidermec – Bottecchia)

2. (3 pts, 2 secs) 51 Danilo Celano (Caja Rural – RGA Seguros)

3. (1 pt, 1 sec) 6 Feritcan Samli (Turkish national team)

At the intermediate sprint, the 6 led the group by 1 minutes 56 seconds. After 128 km, the advantage of the leaders had stretched out again to 2 minutes 22 seconds. With about 75 km to go, UAE Team Emirates riders Marko Kump, Federico Zurlo and Simone Consonni took over at the front of the peloton. Within ten kilometres, the gap was safely within 2 minutes.

Before the “Beauties of Turkey” sprint, the lead group split. With 108 Ludovic Robeet (WB Veranclassic Aquality Protect) forcing the pace, he, 121 Davide Ballerini (Androni – Sidermec – Bottecchia) and 6 Feritcan Samli (Turkish national team) rode away from 51 Danilo Celano (Caja Rural – RGA Seguros), 117 Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF) and 88 Alberto Cecchin (Wilier Triestina – Selle Italia). It soon became clear that the split was definitive.

The three leaders quickly opened a 30 second gap over their erstwhile fellow travellers, and 2 minutes over the peloton. In the main group, slight echelons began to form in the team lines. Meanwhile, 88 Alberto Cecchin (Wilier Triestina – Selle Italia) dropped his two companions and tried to ride across to the front group. Ballerini appeared to speak to Robeet, perhaps suggesting that they wait for Cecchin. Whether or not that was the question, Robeet responded with a curt shake of his head. Celano and Tonelli was duly caught by the peloton.

At the “Beauties of Turkey” sprint, 6 Feritcan Samli (Turkish national team) was uncontested.

km 149.9: “Beauties of Turkey” sprint (Vestel White Jersey competition)

1. (5 pts) 6 Feritcan Samli (Turkish national team)

2. (3 pts) 121 Davide Ballerini (Androni – Sidermec – Bottecchia)

3. (1 pts) 108 Ludovic Robeet (WB Veranclassic Aquality Protect)

The peloton crossed the “Beauties of Turkey” sprint line 2 minutes 22 seconds after the three leaders.

With Tonelli and Cecchin back in the group, first Bardiani-CSF the Wilier Triestina- Selle Italia sent long lines of riders to the front, replacing the UAE Team Emirates stalwarts and increase the pace significantly. The breakaway of three had no defence and was caught just inside the final 40 km. As so often over this route in the past, the peloton was all together and the end game began before the two final categorised climbs.

Into the final 30 kilometres a long line of Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia dominated the front of the peloton, with 86 Liam Bertazzo, 87 Alex Turrin (both) and 83 Miguel Florez kept the tempo high at the front, and former breakaway rider Alberto Cecchin brought bottles from the rear. Their formidable trio of climbers – 82 Daniel Martínez, 84 Yon Godoy and 85 Ilia Koshevoy – lurked intently in their wake.

With 25b m to go, 83 Miguel Florez maintained the head position in the peloton, with the omenous presence of 43 Przemyslaw Niemiec (UAE Team Emirates), race leader for much of last year's TUR, over his shoulder. UAE's list of candidates for the stage and the overall win was even more impressive than Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia's: 41 Darwin Atapuma, Niemiec himself, 47 Diego Ulissi, perhaps even 46 Edward Ravasi.

On the climb, 87 Alex Turrin and 86 Liam Bertazzo returned to the front to force the pace once more. They were still there as the stage entered the final 17.5 km, when 45 Vegard Stake Laengen (UAE Team Emirates) drove past them, gritting his teeth, in preparation for the crest of the climb. Mirco Maestri, wearing the Turkish Airlines Red Jersey, was third wheel, perfectly placed to sprint for the points. He took them largely unchallenged.

At km 189.6: Category 3 climb (Turkish Airlines Red Jersey competition)

1. (3 pts) 113 Mirco Maestri (Bardiani-CSF)

2. (2 pts) 51 Danilo Celano Caja Rural–Seguros RGA)

3. (1 pt) 117 Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF)

That left Maestri and Celano on equal points in the Turkish Airlines Red Jersey competition, with Celano leading by virtue of having won the only first category climb of the race.

Across the line, Maestri continued his attack, but 45 Vegard Stake Laengen (UAE Team Emirates), looking like a man possessed, again powered to the front, with Consonni and Eugenio Alafaci (Trek Segafredo) moving into position, working for Jarlinson Pantano and Diego Ulissi respectively. Stake Laengen was still at the front, with Ulissi on his wheel, as the riders entered the final 12 km, descending at 90 kph towards Selçuk and the foot of the final climb.

Towards the foot of the descent, 36 Edward Theuns, 38 Boy Van Poppel and 33 Marco Coledan appeared at the front of the peloton (all 90 kg of Coledan having flown over the climb!). Pantano was on their wheel as they took the 90 degree left turn towards the start of the climb.

Astana Pro Team came best out of the turn, with 13 Jesper Hansen (Astana Pro Team) emerging fourth wheel. Pavel Brutt (GazProm-RusVelo) was at the front of the peloton as the climb started and Edoardo Zardini (Bardiani-CSF) attacked, to be neutralised by Dmitriy Gurzdev (Astana Pro Team). The peloton began to drop riders in significant numbers. Gruzdev, Ulissi, Zeits occupied the fron three positions when 1 Ahmet Orkhen (Turkish national team) riders and 128 Andrea Vendrame (Androni – Sidermec – Bottecchia). 25 Gregor Mühlberger (BORA Hansgrohe) set off after them. With 3 km to go, Yon Godoy (Wilier Triestina – Selle Italia) made a move behind them, checking behind him, perhaps for the presence of Koshevoy or Martínez.

25 Gregor Mühlberger (BORA Hansgrohe) and 128 Andrea Vendrame (Androni – Sidermec – Bottecchia) shared the lead until 2.5 km to go, when the German set off alone. At the fronty of thegroup,Ulissi, Godoy, Hansen, Muhlberger were among the leaders when Niemiec attack. Daniel Martínez was instantly on his wheel, with Hansen in third. Jarlinson Pantano was at the back of the 11-man leading group, only to be dropped with 1.5 km to go. Niemiec led Martínez, Hansen, Yon Godoy, Mühlberger and Diego Ulissi.

Godoy attacked with 1.2 km to go, Niemiec and his captain Ulissi responded. Then Fausto Masnada (Androni–Sidermec–Bottecchia) attacked with 1 km to go. Hansen chased him down and passed him, but Ulissi, with the final kick everyone feared, was relentless. The 21 year old Martínez followed, but could not match the Italian's speed, and in the end Ulissi tool the win with Hansen coming back for second place and Martínez third.

At km 204.1: Finish – Category 2 climb (Turkish Airlines Red Jersey competition)

1. (5 pts) Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates)

2. (3 pts) Jesper Hansen (Astana Pro Team)

3. (2 pts) Daniel Martínez (Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia)

4. (1 pt) Fausto Masnada (Androni–Sidermec–Bottecchia)