Danish neo-pro Magnus Cort has rounded up the top ten on the eighth and final stage of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey in Istanbul. Cort was supported by his ORICA-GreenEDGE teammates who committed to closing the early breakaway in the last ten kilometres and move the 22-year-old to the front of the peloton as they reach a crucial hairpin turn just ahead of the one kilometre to go mark.

The finale featured cobbles, turns and a rise that proved crucial to the escape of eventual winner Lluis Mas Bonet (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA).

“Our strategy was to put Magnus in a good position going into that last U-turn,” sport director Laurenzo Lapage said. “You saw from the bottom of the hill after that it was pretty much the same guys that stayed in the top ten for the stage.

“I think Mas Bonet was there to do that lead out for his teammates because there was three in the last corner, in the end it was a really strong move from him.”

The result gives ORICA-GreenEDGE four top ten results from the eight days racing, including three for Cort and a second place on stage one for fellow neo-pro Caleb Ewan. Canadian Christian Meier finished as the Australian outfits top rider on general classification in 17th position, despite committing to a support role each day.

“We tried in the sprints and we came twice really close with a young team,” Lapage said. “For the overall it’s a bit disappointing but without a designated leader like Adam (Yates) last year, we knew it would not have been easy.”

The final stage of the Tour of Turkey was a short 124km affair, as the peloton completed eight laps of Istanbul and surrounding areas, including a bridge over Bosphorus that took the peloton into Asia. The quartet of Boris Vallée (Lotto Soudal), Eduard Grosu (Nippo – Vini Fantini), Kenny De Ketele (Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise) and Carlos Quintero (Team Colombia) formed at the front of the race.

Under the close watch of Etixx Quick – Step, who were looking for a fourth stage win courtesy of Mark Cavendish the escapees were only given a maximum two minute advantage and despite a last ditched effort, the race was back together in the final five kilometres. Sprint trains were largely sacrificed to get their leaders in good position for the hairpin turn that immediately stretched out the peloton with over a kilometre to go.

Those left in contention were surprised as Mas Bonet timed his move on a cobbled hill to escape and hold of a small group led by Cavendish who was forced to battle alone.