Tour of Turkey 2014 - Stage 2

The 2014 Tour of Turkey continued today with its second stage, this time 174.2 kilometres from Alanya to Kemer. Mark Cavendish of Omega Pharma-Quickstep started the day in the blue leader's jersey, and the flat finish waiting in Kemer meant Cavendish stood a good chance of keeping the jersey until the third stage. 

A breakaway went away, Ahmet Orken of Torku Sekerspor was joined by Pawel Churucki (CCC Polsat), Nicola Boem (Bardiani-CSF), Martijn Verschoor (Novo Nordisk) and Mattia Pozzo of Neri Sottoli. The breakaway never looked like being successful, with the sprinters eager to take a win before stage three's uphill finish will send them to the back of the peloton.

The peloton was reeling in the breakaway when there was still fifty kilometres to go, and Pawel Churucki of CCC Polsat drifted back to the peloton, but the break dangled out in front of the pack until the race came within twenty kilometres of Kemer. The lead out train battle started early, with Omega Pharma-Quickstep and Belkin placing multiple men near the front.

Astana rode on the back of Cavendish and Omega Pharma-Quickstep, trying to set it up for their man Andrea Guardini. Other men tipped for the win were Theo Bos and Elia Viviani. The sprint was a difficult uphill sprint with a headwind, but Omega Pharma-Quickstep set it up perfectly for Cavendish, guiding him into the finish in Kemer in pole position.

It was his race to lose, but Cavendish is in good form, and didn't let anybody pass him on the way to the line. He raised his arms as victor of the second stage. Behind him Francesco Chicchi of Neri Sottoli and Niccolo Bonifazio of Lampre-Merida. Cavendish's win means he keeps his blue leader's jersey as the race heads uphill tomorrow. Cavendish's return to form has been impressive, especially considering his month break from racing after an illness.