The Turkey Tour 2025 ended this Sunday in the streets ofIzmirto the west of the country. After two difficulties at the start of the stage, the last 60 kilometers were flat, offering a last opportunity to sprinters. And it is Matteo Malucelli (XDS Astana Team) which has imposed itself, ahead of the sprint Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) et Giovanni Lonardi (Team Polti-VisitMalta). La XDS Astana Team thus validates a magnificent double in the general classification, with Wout Poels et Harold Martin Lopez at the first two places.
Video – Nicolas Vinokourov from the 8th stage
The summary
Despite a beautiful breakaway of ten runners, in which included in particular Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-deceuninck), the stage finally played between sprinters. 300 meters from the line, Alexander Kristoff and his pilot fish are overwhelmed by the Flanders-Baloise. The sprint launches on the left of the road, led by Marc Brustenga (Equipo Kern Pharma), which seems to win a time. But Kristoff comes back strong … before Matteo Malucelli does not find the opening in a mouse hole in the last 100 meters and does not impose itself clearly. This is the fourth stage victory for the XDS Astana Team On this Turkey Tour, and the first for the Italian sprinter.
In the final classification, Wout Poels award Harold Martin Lopez 16 seconds. Guillermo Juan Martinez (Team Picnic Postnl) completes the podium. Abel Balderstone (Rural-Sigur Caja RGA) et John Kulset (UNO-X Mobility) complete the top 5. First French, Adrien Mayor (Unibet-astiema Rockets) ranks 9th, just behind his teammate Giovanni Carboni.
