Tour of Turkey 2014 - Stage 5

The fifth stage of the Tour of Turkey 2014 took place today, it was a 183 kilometre race from Marmaris to Bodrum. It was another flat finish, so it was likely another sprint would be contested. Mark Cavendish had to be the overwhelming favourite, he's won three out of four stages this week, and it was hard to see anyone being able to beat him. 

The peloton were happy to let a breakaway go, and it included Neri Sottoli's Mattia Pozzo, Bardiani-CSF's Nicola Boem and UnitedHealthcare's Marc De Maar. They worked well together, but it was inevitable that they would eventually be brought back. Omega Pharma-Quickstep were active in bringing the move back, as well as the other sprinter's teams who had ambitions.

Nicola Boem tried an attack when the peloton were closing in, splintering the breakaway move, but it was just prolonging the agony as the peloton spotted their prey. Adam Hansen tried attacking out of the peloton after being brought to the front by Andre Greipel, the sprinter playing deluxe-domestique this week after returning from a collarbone injury.

Hansen and Boem's attacks ultimately failed, and it was Omega Pharma-Quickstep who took it up for their man Mark Cavendish, who looked certain to add his fourth win. Elia Viviani was sat on his wheel, and although Cavendish put in a strong sprint Viviani came around him to take the win by two bike lengths. It was a pleasant surprise for the Italian who has been playing second fiddle to Cavendish this week.

Rein Taaramae of Cofidis maintained his six second lead over Adam Yates after riding well for the stage, and MTN Qhubeka had a good result as their man Kristian Sbaragli got on the podium behind Viviani and Cavendish. Although Viviani took the win today Cavendish has to be the favourite to take a couple more wins as the race heads towards its conclusion.