Elia Viviani makes it a double at the Presidential Tour of Turkey. After the majestic sprint on stage 5 the Italian rider was also the fastest man on stage 7.  

 

Starting from the resort town of Kusadasi and finishing in the city of Izmir on the Aegean coast, the stage covered a 136 km of rolling terrain that set-up the speedy sprinter for exciting finale. A great performance from Viviani and the entire team of Cannondale Pro Cycling presented by ÇAĞDAŞ KİMYA, that has shown to be one of the most combative teams of the entire race.

 

Behind Viviani, Andrea Guardini (Astana) placed second and Mark Cavendish (OmegaPharma-QuickStep) third.

 

"I'm really, really happy for this win. I came in Turkey with two goals - taking a victory and improve my condition in view of the Giro. Today I proved that both have been on target" said Viviani. "I could not ask more than this. I feel my condition is reaching the top and the morale is great.

 

"Today's sprint has been harder compared to two days ago. Several sprinters were in the game and there weremany metres to ride to the finish line when the sprint started. I took the risk to win or to lose. I had a really good feeling but I knew I had won only when I saw my wheel passing the line as first. 

 

"My teammates did a great work also today, both helping and protecting me from any risks. Tomorrow could be another good chance - I would like to try again.

 

"The last turn was very dangerous with a big group in such a sharp turn. I lost a lot of ground on the OPQS train. After that, the OPQS train started. When Steegmans went in the front, a lot of riders couldn’t follow, including Cavendish.

 

"When Petacchi started the sprint, he was alone with Cavendish and I was a few metres away. In one second I told myself to go and when I came behind Cav, I stayed in his wheel and I saw with 100 metres to go that he was not riding at a great speed. I jumped on my pedals and went. It was strange for sure. I never won one in this mode.

 

“I’m really happy about this second stage win. This is the confirmation of the last sprint stage. My condition is at the top now. With only a few metres left, it was me and Cavendish. I only listened to my legs and I went, telling myself that if I take his wheel, it would be perfect, otherwise second or third would be good too.

 

"Tomorrow will be another sprint. I don’t think we’ll have a real race before the final sprint. It was the same today. My priority now is to stay after this Tour of Turkey in great condition without any problems. But with the condition I have, tomorrow I want another victory. 

 

"I hope to beat Kittel the way I beat Cav here. My condition is on top. Now I’m just asking my body to remain in this condition for the next ten days.

 

"My big focus is the first week of the Giro and in these first three stages I want to beat Kittel. They announced my team for the Giro and it’s a very strong team for the sprints with Ratto, Gatto, Longo Borghini, Marangoni and Villela. It’s a very strong team for the flat stages and for the sprints for me and also for the team time trial.

 

"I have a dream, and it’s to take the pink jersey I missed by a few centimetres when Cavendish beat me last year. I need to go to the Giro with this condition. 

 

"Last year was my first Giro. I lost by a few centimetres behind Cav, but I didn’t have the same power. This year, we worked a lot for the sprints and even if I didn’t get big results at the track worlds, afterwards I only worked for the sprints. And it only took me this race to be in a great condition. After this race, I can’t ask more from my body."

 

For Viviani, stage 7 is the third win in the season and the 27th of his career. For the Green Machine, this win marks the 8th victory since racing began in January.

 

Tomorrow Viviani & Co. will face the competition in the historical city of Istanbul for the eighth and l final stage of Tour of Turkey, a 121 km long stage that should see the sprinters doing battle once again for glory at the line.