ORICA-GreenEDGE didn’t factor in today’s stage five final at the Presidential Tour of Turkey, which featured a three-kilometre ramp to the finish line that provided an entertaining finale. Teams, including ORICA-GreenEDGE approached the final with full sprint trains in tow, but the ascent saw many drop off the pace as Sacha Mondolo (Lampre – Merida) claim a narrow victory.

“We knew it was tough but also with the downhill roads in the lead up we knew it was impossible to escape so you have to try for the sprint,” sport director Laurenzo Lapage said to the Orica website.

“The hardest part of the race was in the first 40km, and then we had big big long straight roads where the peloton goes so fast so there is noting else to do. We believed Caleb could do a good sprint on a finish like today but in the end the boys lost each other completely. They were lined up well at one point but that’s sprinting, some days it works and some days it doesn’t.”

The shape of the race changed on various occasions throughout the 159.9km stage. A break of three shaped early racing but were brought in with 50km to ride.  Subsequently, a second group of nine riders, including ORICA-GreenEDGE’s Damien Howson, got up to a 30seconds advantage before another trio also briefly tried their luck out front.

“We said to the guys if big groups are going away to try to be in them so we don’t have to work from the back,” Lapage said. “It was a good move from Damien to be in, that move with nine guys. You never know what will happen, if they let it go they let it go, but if you have to chase you lose two of third riders for the sprint in the process.”

All moves proved unsuccessful as a determined peloton flew towards the three-kilometre ramp that led up to the finish line.

Sprint trains littered the front of racing, but they were to be surprised by the final kick that proved too much for the pure sprinters they were protecting.