Greipel wins again, Van Garderen still second in Turkey

André Greipel sprinted to victory in Thursday’s fifth and longest stage at the Tour of Turkey while HTC-Columbia teammate Tejay Van Garderen remains second overall.

Greipel out-kicked Mattia Gavazzi (Colnago) to win his third stage in the Turkey tour and his ninth victory on the 2010 season. Kenny Van Hummel (Skil-Shimano) crossed the line third in the 221km stage from Denizli to Fethiye.

The day was highlighted by a six-man breakaway, which peeled clear of the main pack in the opening kilometers. The pack had to work hard to neutralize the last of the attackers with just seven kilometers to go to set up the mass gallop.

Van Garderen finished safely in the main pack to remain second overall, at 16 seconds arrears of overnight leader Giovanni Visconti (ISD). There were no major shakeups in the overall, with David Moncoutie (Cofidis) remaining third at 27 seconds back.

“It was a really tough stage with 2,500 meters of climbing straight after 3,000 meters the day before, but we managed to bring back a dangerous break with seven kilometres to go and then set things up for the sprint,” commented Greipel. “We took the lead, the guys kept me up there and (HTC-Columbia’s) Mark Renshaw and Frankie Rabon kept the pace high in the last couple of kilometers until I accelerated away myself. I went with maybe 300 meters to go, which was a long way out, but I knew if I didn’t go early I’d get boxed in.”

Greipel has never taken so many wins so early in the season and says he is hopeful his run of victories will continue. “This time last year I was out of racing because of a crash earlier in the season, so it’s nice to be doing well and to be in good shape.”

With three stages remaining, HTC-Columbia’s Tejay Van Garderen remains in second overall, just 16 seconds down on Italian Giovanni Visconti. “Hopefully Tejay will stay up there in contention. So far it’s looking very good,” Greipel said. “Meanwhile, I’ll keep focussing on the sprints.”

The 46th International Presidency Turkey Tour continues Friday with the two-climb, 194km sixth stage from Fethiye to Finike along the Turkish Mediterranean coast. Two climbs midway through the stage could present Van Garderen with a chance to try to sneak away from Visconti.

Stage 5
1. André Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia) 6:09:17
2. Mattia Gavazzi (Colnago) m.t.
3. Kenny Van Hummel (Skil-Shimano), s.t.
4. Angelo Furlan (Lampre), s.t.
5. Vidal Celis (Footon-Servetto-Fuji), s.t.
6. Oscar Gatto (ISD-Neri), s.t.
7. Elia Viviani (Liquigas), s.t.
8. Michele Merlo (Footon-Servetto-Fuji), s.t.
9. Claudio Cuccinotta (De Rosa), s.t.
10. René Haselbacher (Vorarlberg), s.t.

Overall
1. Giovanni Visconti (ISD-Neri) 21:07:08
2. Tejay Van Garderen (Team HTC-Columbia), at 0:16
3. David Moncoutie (Cofidis), at 0:27
4. Giampaolo Cheula (Footon-Servetto-Fuji), at 0:48
5. Cristian Salerno (De Rosa), at 1:42