Argentinian Eduardo Sepulveda (Androni-Giocatolli) scored twice on Wednesday in the Tour of Turkey, winning the 4th stage between Izmir and Manisa alone and taking first place in the general classification.
The 30-year-old Argentinian, who twice finished on the final podium of the event (2nd in 2015, 3rd in 2021), won 15 seconds ahead of a group of four riders, settled at sprint by New Zealander Patrick Bevin (Israel-Premier Tech). Overall, Sepulveda is 14 seconds ahead of Bevin and 25 over Australian Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix), 5th in the stage.
Run over 147 km, the stage was the only one in the Tour of Turkey to offer the peloton a finish at the top, at the end of a 14 km ascent with an average gradient of 7% classified as out of category. Sepulveda placed his decisive attack 4.5 km from the line.
Dropped out in the overall following a fall in the 2nd stage, Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic), who was the favorite of the day, made the first attacks in the final ascent without managing to win the riders who accompanied. The Colombian ended up in the first group of pursuers. In the general classification, he is in 16th place, at 2:04. The race ends on Sunday in Istanbul.
Stage classification:
1. Eduardo Sepulveda (ARG / AND) the 147 km in 3 h 48:38.
2. Patrick Bevin (NZE / ALP) at 15.
3. Harm Vanhoucke (BEL/LOT) m.t.
4. Nairo Quintana (COL / ARK) mt
5. Jay Vine (AUS/ALP) m.t.
General classification
1. Eduardo Sepulveda (ARG/AND) 15 h 04:18.
2. Patrick Bevin (NZE / ALP) at 14.
3. Jay Vine (AUS / ALP) 25.
4. Harm Vanhoucke (BEL/LOT) 37.
5. Anders Johannessen (NOR / UNO) 46.
