Astana Qazaqstan Team Dominates Tour of Turkey with Alexey Lutsenko’s Queen Stage Win

Astana Qazaqstan Team showcased their dominance in the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey as Alexey Lutsenko claimed a spectacular victory in the queen stage. Lutsenko, along with team-mate Harold Tejada, exhibited their strength throughout the challenging stage, particularly on the final climb. With only three riders in front towards the end, Lutsenko launched a powerful attack to secure a solo win, while Tejada finished third.

“Most probably it was the hardest climb of my career, it was something incredible. Almost an hour of climbing at the limit of strength! The key to success was to distribute our forces correctly, having a good place for the final climb. Well, we prepared a good strategy, we decomposed our energy competently, and, in the end, everything worked out. It was a very difficult stage, but the team spent this day at the highest level. In the first half of the distance Gleb Syritsa and Michele Gazzoli supported me, while in the final, Harold Tejada was up there next to me all the time, together we were able to play the team tactics, which was crowned with a win. After returning from the Asian Games, the first few days on the Tour of Turkey I did not feel very well, acclimatization affected, but today everything was much better. I am very pleased with this success, I am happy that the team was really strong, and that we were able to prove ourselves in such a tough challenge”, – said Alexey Lutsenko.

 

“I am happy for Alexey, he was the strongest today and took a beautiful victory. On the last climb we were remained together with him in the group of leaders, we stayed next to each other all the time, helped each other, tried to keep a good pace so as not to let other rivals in. When we remained just three in front of the race, I started my lead-out to keep up the pace, as several riders were trying to come back behind us. At the final kilometer, I tried to keep up with Alexey’s pace, but I had not enough power, so I preferred to take my own rhythm and finished third. I think we had a very decent race today”, – added Harold Tejada.

Following the third stage, Alexey Lutsenko now leads the General Classification and holds the king of mountain classification, while Harold Tejada stands in third place overall.

Photo credit: @SprintCycling