Theo Bos and Belkin again lost out in a sprint in the Tour of Turkey when the fast Dutchman could only make fifth in today's penultimate stage. The many near-misses are starting to frustrate the team as they feel that they have the strongest train in the race.

The green and black Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM sprint train moved up to front in the last kilometres of every sprint stage in the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey so far, but was never able to get in the mix for the win. Today, it happened again. In the seventh stage from Kusadasi to Izmir, Elia Viviani (Cannondale) sprinted to the win and Belkin's Theo Bos placed fifth. 

“Theo did a quick sprint, but had to come from too far out. He and Graeme Brown lost contact with Barry Markus and Robert Wagner in the difficult final corner, even if the train had been perfectly positioned,” explained Sports Director Michiel Elijzen. 

“All the riders were disappointed afterwards. We’re working hard for a result and the train is on the track, but we only finished third in the first stage and that’s it. That’s not what we came to Turkey for.” 

The disappointing results are beginning to annoy Elijzen and the riders despite their good teamwork in the sprints.

“We just need a bit of luck. This is getting a little frustrating. We would have a good chance to win the trophy for best sprint train, but that prize doesn’t exist. The flowers are on the finish line.” 

Sunday’s final stage will take place in Istanbul. A 121-kilometre run concludes the 50th Tour of Turkey. 

“This is our last chance, we’ll give everything for a good result,” Elijzen said. “I expect a break to get reeled in before final. After that we’ll try to take control and hopefully, Theo can reward the team for all the hard work they put in this week. He won this stage in the past, so it will be like coming home.” 

Bos won the Istanbul stage two years ago. He hopes for a repeat.

“I’ve got good memories from Istanbul. Today’s result could have been better, but my legs felt well at least. That’s an encouraging sign for tomorrow. We’ll continue to do our best and hopefully everything will fall into place for once.”