After two consecutive second places, the big day arrived for the Belgian Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin Fenix) in the Tour of Turkey: he made a double blow with a stage win and leadership in the third day disputed between ÇeYme and Izmir, of 117.9 km, in which the Spanish Miguel Ángel Fernández (Global 6) was third, with the same position in the general classification.
A nice final duel in the shortest and flattest stage of the Turkish round, in which, finally, Jasper Philipsen imposed his speed against the Australian Kaden Groves (BikeExchange), who handed over the stage and the light blue leader’s jersey to the Belgian.
The Cantabrian Miguel Ángel Fernández (Global 6), a 25-year-old sprinter born in Santander, got into the dispute one more day that is becoming known in Turkish lands. After two eighth places, this time she moved up to third and, with a breakaway included in the general classification, to the third step of the podium.
The outcome of the sprint in ancient Izmir, along the Aegean coast, was clear. The sprinters had the third consecutive datewhich was missed by the Australian Caleb Ewan, who disappeared on the finish line.
The escape was maintained up to 11 km from the finish line by 5 men, including a man from Euskaltel Euskadi, Peio Goikoetxea (Euskaltel), who suffered a fall without consequences shortly before the adventure in which the Ermua cyclist participated was cancelled.
It was the sprinter teams that took on the last part of the course. The Lotto Soudal appeared from afarbut not with much ambition, perhaps because Ewan was not in a position to seek the double.
If the Groves BikeExchange and Philipsen’s Alpecin worked with great prospects, their pride touched by two consecutive second places. It was the Australian who launched the attack 250 meters from the finish line. The “aussie” cyclist tried to surprise the Belgian, but the Belgian rider stopped his feet. He overtook him and asserted himself with authority.
Philipsen (Ham, 24 years old), achieved the 16th victory of his career and the third of the season. A rider who has already shone in the grand tours, as he has 3 stage wins in the Vuelta a España.
He was at the head of the general standings with an advantage of 2 seconds over Groves and 18 seconds over Miguel Ángel Fernández, who must already be in the sights of some team. In Spanish cycling there are not enough sprinters.
This Wednesday the fourth stage of the Tour of Turkey will take platoon from Izmir to Manisa along a route of 146.2 km.