Iljo Keisse wins the penultimate stage of the Tour of Turkey 2012
Iljo Keisse of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step opened his 2012 winning account at the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey 2012.
The cyclist rode brilliantly during the 124 kilometre race and claimed the top podium spot.
He sprinted his way across the finish line in a fastest time of 2 hours, 52 minutes and 38 seconds to receive the honours.
Marcel Kittel of Team Argos-Shimano, Alessandro Petacchi of Team Lampre-ISD, Andrea Guardini of Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia and Mark Renshaw of Team Rabobank achieved the next four positions.
The 29-year-old joined Team Quick Step in 2010 after representing Team Chocolade Jacques-T Interim for 2005-08 and Team John Saey-Deschacht-Huyandai for 2009 seasons.
Iljo has helped the Belgian team with numerous victories in the past season and his performance during the seventh stage of the Turkish race has shown his real talent.
Keisse launched the attack during the final 6 kilometres of the race and built a huge lead of 40 seconds over his compatriots.
He was brought to ground right before the finish line after his front wheel slid out but the cyclist picked himself up and continued the race.
The Belgian was having a dry season and the win has boosted his confidence for the remaining part of the season.
He briefed, "It's the end of a bad part of my life. I'm over the moon about this victory. Here in Turkey my condition is improving day by day. Every day I was a little bit better”.
“Also yesterday I tried to get in the breakaway without luck. Today I chose the right move. The guys in the break were really motivated. In the final I felt strong”.
“I knew that If I kept going on it was possible to arrive until the finish", he concluded.
Ivailo Gabrovski is leading the stage 7 classifications with a massive lead of 1 minute and 33 seconds over Alexandr Dyachenko.
Danail Andonov Petrov of Team Caja Rural is further 5 seconds behind at the third position, while Adrian Palomares Villaplana of Team Andalucia and Romain Bardet of Team AG2R La Mondiale are holding the fourth and the fifth positions in the respective order.
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