Guardini beats Farrar in Istanbul sprint

Italy's Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini-Neri-Sottoli) won taken the first sprint at the Presidential Tour of Turkey, beating Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) and several other big-name sprinters.

“It’s beautiful to win ahead of a great champion like Farrar who has already won so many races”, Guardini said.

“A bit like at the Tour of Qatar, this is an unexpected victory for me. But it’s great to win the first stage because it gives the leader’s jersey at least for one day."

The opening stage of the weeklong stage race crossed bridged Europe and Asia, held for the first time with a stage from historical Sultanhamet to Kadiköy on the Asian seaside of Istanbul. After a first break away by Igor Etxebarria (Caja Rural) and Bünyamin Ozdemir (Manisaspor), the bunch crossed the magnificent bridge over the Bosphorus all together and then the main breakaway of the day was formed after 25 kilometres of racing, nearby the stadium of Fehnerbace.

Marco Frapporti (Colnago-CSF), Rob Goris (Vérandas Willems) and Manuele Boaro (Saxo Bank-SunGard) were rejoined by Timon Seubert (NetApp), Arturo Mora (Caja Rural), Robin Chaigneau (Skil-Shimano) and Laszlo Bodrogi (Team Type 1) to form a front group of seven riders.

Lampre-ISD, Omega Pharma-Lotto, Garmin-Cervélo and later De Rosa-Ceramica Flaminia never gave the escapees an advantage of more than a minute, so a bunch sprint was inevitable and all riders regrouped with 15 kilometres to go.

Greipel won five stages at the Presidential Tour of Turkey last year but missed the sprint because of a flat tyre within three kilometres to go. The finish looked for Petacchi, who had the best position under the flamme rouge of the last kilometre, but the Italian veteran lost control of the situation and was relegated to the last position – instead of eighth – and penalised of one minute on GC after hitting French neo pro Nacer Bouhanni from FDJ during the final moments of the sprint.

Guardini got his sprint right “He came from behind and that was a good way to do it because there was kind of a downhill,” Tyler Farrar explained after finishing second.

“It was a really nice sprint by him. He’s obviously a big talent. It’s no surprise to see him winning, although it was my first time racing against him.”

Third placed Kenny van Hummel was also very impressed by the 22 year-old Italian. “Guardini is really fast”, the Dutchman from Skil-Shimano said. “The level of sprinters is so much higher here than last week-end when I won the Ronde van Drenthe in the Netherlands. The best sprinters in the world are here in Turkey!”

Farrar was a very satisfied with second after taking a break from racing.

“I’m happy with my result”, the American commented. “I almost didn’t touch my bike since Paris-Roubaix as I needed a break. To be second here today is still ok. It’s only going to get better before the Giro.”

Gaurdini pulled on the race leader's jersey, and will try and defend it like his team leader Giovanni Visconti did so well last year when he won overall.

"My team finished the Tour of Turkey with this turquoise jersey last year and we start this year’s race the same way," he pointed out.

"I dedicate this stage win to my team and to my captain Giovanni Visconti. He won the Tour of Turkey last year and he’s now busy gearing up for the Giro d’Italia. I hope this result means the end of a period of bad luck for us.”

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