News | Tour of Turkey • April 21, 2019
Conti closes the Tour of Turkey in 2nd overall
Place of honour confirmed in Istanbul, Consonni 4th place in the last stage
The 2019 Tour of Turkey ended with Valerio Conti second place overall at 19″ from the winner Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe). He survived the final stage, Sakarya to Istanbul, 172.4 km, which saw Simone Consonni take fourth place in the sprint behind winner Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal).
After yesterday’s snow and frost, cyclists had a sunny but very complicated arrival. Ewan navigated best the complicated turns and 1300-metre slight rise in the ancient city of Istanbul. Simone Consonni was just 4″ back, behind Ewan, Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe).
In the overall standings, in addition to Conti’s second place, the UAE Team Emirates is satisfied for Jan Polanc’s sixth place at 1’12”.
Valerio Conti: “I am satisfied with this second place in a hard fought race. Today was not an easy day, the final was complicated and it was essential to keep the leading positions in the tortuous run in. I received excellent support from the team, I thank all the teammates. It is a result that gives me optimism in view of the Giro d’Italia. Thinking about Consonni, it was too bad, he came close on the final stage again and almost made the podium.”
Stage six results:
1 Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto-Soudal 4h10’41 ”
2 Fabio Jakobsen (Bel) Deceuninck-Quick Step 1 ”
3 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe 4 ”
4 Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team Emirates s.t.
Final general classification:
1 Felix Grossschartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 24h53’58 ”
2 Valerio Conti (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 19 “
3 Merhawi Kudus (Eri) Astana 25 ”
6 Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 1’12 “
