Published April 23, 2013 09:35AM
Natnael Berhane (Europcar) won stage 3 at the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey on Tuesday.
The mountainous, 154-kilometer stage culminated in a 10km finishing ascent that punished everyone in the peloton. Some riders dropped back shortly after the base of the climb.
Berhane finished ahead of Kevin Seeldraeyers (Astana) and Mutafa Sayar (Torku Sekerspor), which is also the new top three in the GC. Seeldraeyers is 10 seconds back and Sayar is 12 ticks behind.
“It’s the biggest stage at the Tour of Turkey and it’s magnificent to win,” Berhane said on the Eurosport broadcast.
Berhane moved into a lead group of four riders with about 3km left, and he stayed seated as he powered up the steep road. With a few hundred meters remaining, he attacked and sprinted to the finish line. Nobody followed him and his victory was uncontested.
The eight-day race picks up with Wednesday’s 147km stage 4.