Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) convincingly took his second stage win at the Tour of Turkey with a characteristically powerful sprint finish in Izmir at the end of stage 7.

The German proved too strong for Andrea Guardini (Astana) and Max Richeze (Lampre-Merida) and ran out a comfortable winner following a convincing display.

The run in to the finale was tarnished by a bunch crash on the final right-hand corner that ruled out Francesco Chicchi (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia), André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) and a number of other sprinters from the decisive sprint and left just a dozen riders in a position to battle it out.

The final 50 km of the stage were ignited by a break featuring Michael Hepburn (Orica-GreenEdge), Benoit Jarrier (Bretagne-Seché), Nikolay Mihaylov (CCC-Polsat), Mauro Finetto (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia), Martijn Verschoor (Team Novo Nordisk) and Christopher Juul Jensen (Saxo-Tinkoff). The six riders worked well together but once Argos-Shimano, Lotto-Belisol and Astana organised the pursuit behind, it was evident that they would be reeled back in and the race would come back together for a bunch finish.

With just Sunday’s final stage to Istanbul to come, local favourite Mustafa Sayar (Torku Sekerspor) leads Natnael Berhane (Europcar) by 41 seconds at the head of the overall standings.

Stage 7 result:

1. Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano)

2. Andrea Guardini (Astana)

3. Ariel Richeze (Lampre-Merida)

4. Maxime Meredel (Sojasun)

5. Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox)

6. Jacobe Keough (United Healthcare)

7. Francesco Lasca (Caja Rural)

8. Jarc Blaz (NetApp-Endura)

9. Aldis Kruopis (Orica-GreenEDGE)

10. Nikolas Maes (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)

General Classification:

1. Mustafa Sayar (Torku Sekerspor)

2. Natnael Berhane (Europcar) 41"

3. Yoann Bagot (Cofidis) 44"