Manuel Belletti takes 3rd stage, lead at 2011 Presidential Tour of Turkey

Manuel Belletti (Colnago-CSF Inox) doubled in Tuesday’s third stage at the Presidential Tour of Turkey, winning the stage and slipping on the race leader’s jersey.

Some of the sprinters didn’t make it over a series of steep hills that punctuated the 166km stage from Bodrum to Marmaris, including American Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo), who lost more than a minute and slipped out of the top 10 overall.

Belletti said he used his knowledge of the course to measure his efforts to the line. Roberto Ferrari (Androni) crossed the line second with Wesley Sulzberger (FDJ) third while Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) once more came up short in the sprints with fourth.

“Without any doubt, my experience of the Tour of Turkey has helped me to win today’s stage. This is my third participation, so I knew this stage and I didn’t hide that it was my favorite one,” Belletti told reporters at the line.

“Unfortunately last year, I didn’t manage to stay up the front but today my team kept me out of trouble in the first positions in the final climb, so I could sprint without any complication at the difference of the past two years. The two riders (Svein Tuft and Wesley Sulzberger) who had jumped from the bunch actually helped as points of reference. I was feeling well and it was already my plan to start sprinting with 300 meters to go.”

With time bonuses, Belletti moves into the overall leader’s jersey. Ferrari is second at four seconds back with Stefan Van Dijck in third at 10 seconds adrift.

The 47th tour continues Wednesday with the 209km stage from Marmaris to Pamukkale. The hilly route features some serious climbing, with summits of more than 1,000 meters after starting out along the Med coast. A short, punchy climb near the line is good terrain for attacking riders to gap the sprinters and make a run for the overall lead.

Quick results
Stage 3

• 1. Manuel Belletti (Ita), Colnago-CSF, 4:22:24
• 2. Roberto Ferrari (Ita), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni, s.t.
• 3. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus), Française des Jeux, s.t.
• 4. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita), Lampre-Farnese Vini, s.t.
• 5. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu), Garmin-Cervélo, s.t.

title

• 1. Manuel Belletti (Ita), Colnago-CSF, 11:21:36
• 2. Roberto Ferrari (Ita), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni, at 0:04
• 3. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus), Française des Jeux, at 0:06
• 4. Stefan Van Dijk (Ned), at 0:10
• 5. Diego Milan Jimenez (Esp), Caja Rural, at 0:10

Complete results