Ben Zwiehoff Takes Second Place on “Hardest Mountain of the Season” at Tour of Türkiye

In a thrilling display of strength and perseverance, Ben Zwiehoff of BORA – hansgrohe secured second place on the grueling Babadağ mountain during the third stage of the Tour of Türkiye. Known as the “hardest mountain of the season,” Babadağ poses a formidable challenge with its steep climb from sea level to nearly 2000 meters in just 18 kilometers.

Zwiehoff’s impressive performance was a result of a well-executed team strategy. Nico Denz led the group into Babadağ, with Patrick Konrad increasing the pace. This aggressive move whittled down the group to less than ten riders with around 15 kilometers remaining. Zwiehoff found himself among the elite group, including Toni Palzer and Florian Lipowitz.

The relentless battle for dominance continued until the final kilometer, where only Zwiehoff and Alexey Lutsenko of Astana Qazaqstan Team remained in the lead. In a strategic move, Lutsenko launched a decisive attack 500 meters before the finish, clinching the top spot.

Reflecting on the team’s overall performance, Bernie Eisel, a member of BORA – hansgrohe, expressed satisfaction with the second and fourth-place results. Eisel remarked, “I am very happy for Ben and Lipo. Our tactics worked – we made the race a hard one with the entire team.”

Zwiehoff, giving everything he had after a long season, acknowledged his disappointment in not claiming victory but recognized the skill of Lutsenko. “Of course, it’s a shame that I couldn’t win, but it was Lutsenko. He knows how to do it. The last kilometer was so hard – if you make a mistake, like I did with my early attack, then it doesn’t get any easier.”

Unfortunately, the team’s strong performance was marred by a crash involving Luis-Joe Lührs during the descent from the first mountain. After briefly continuing, Lührs was unable to continue racing and had to abandon the stage.

Despite this setback, Zwiehoff’s second-place finish on the challenging Babadağ mountain is a testament to his skill and determination. As the Tour of Türkiye continues, cycling fans eagerly await the next feats of endurance and drama that lie ahead.