Przemyslaw Niemiec (Lampre-Merida) became a hugely surprising winner of the first stage of the Tour of Turkey when he claimed a marvelous solo win in Instanbul. Having attacked out of the early breakaway, he benefited from a strange tactical game between the sprint teams and managed to hold the main group off by 16 seconds to take the win and the first leader’s jersey. Marco Zanotti (Parkhotel) won the sprint for third after Jose Goncalves (Caja Rural) had made a late attack to take second.

We have gathered several reactions.

Triumphant Przemyslaw Niemiec: I don’t know how I did this

 “I managed to surprise everyone in a stage that seemed destined for the sprinters,” Przemyslaw Niemiec said. “I don't know how. It's my first time in Turkey, and my first win since 2014. I'm very happy to win here, especially for the team. Turkey is important for the team's sponsor, Lampre. Last year we won with Durasek. This first day has gone very well indeed. Now we'll see day after day, and take each stage as it comes.

“It’s a surprise indeed. At the start, everybody expected a bunch sprint finish but when my breakaway companions decided to give up as our advantage was reduced to 40 seconds, I decided to continue. I’m glad I did. This victory is important for me and for Lampre-Merida. I had a lot of bad luck last year and as a team, we didn’t have the best early part of the season this year and we came here to do well after we won the Tour of Turkey with Kristjian Durasek last year.

“In the final 8 km, after the climb, which was pretty hard, I saw the group across the road and I still hada lead of 1'40". That is when I started to believe. I knew that there was a climb in the final 1.5km. I gave it everything. All the energy I still had, I gave it all. The final 2km were very dangerous. As well as the pave, there were 90 degree turns and you had to be very careful. But let's say, they probably suited me better than than they did the bunch. Thanks to my lead I managed to win it.

“After the second lap of the final circuit, the group was approaching, and came to within 40 secs, my breakaway companions said, Enough. I decided to go, I went all alone. I believed. Perhaps the group relaxed when they saw I was alone. I built up a lead of three minutes, and I managed to hold it all alone.

“I dedicate this victory to my wife and my two children, the third one is due to arrive in September.

“Tomorrow's circuit looks very hard. It starts uphill, and it has an uphill finish. We'll see what we can do. We know we will all be a bit tired after today. But no stress.”

Strong Goncalves takes second, Barbero breaks collarbone

Caja Rural - Seguros RGA had a bittersweet start to this year's Tour of Turkey. The team's in-shape sprinter, Carlos Barbero, was involved in a big crash early on stage 1 and was forced to abandon the race. A hospital check-up later confirmed that Barbero suffered a broken collarbone. He will now return to Spain to undergo further examinations. 
 
After the hectic start of the stage, a break of five riders managed to get away. Caja Rural - Seguros RGA was represented by Lluis Mas who won this stage in Istanbul last year and naturally, was eager to double up. However, the peloton never let the breakaway get a gap of more than a few minutes. Therefore, after winning the Turkish Beauties sprint, which means he will wear the white jersey on Monday, Mas and three of the five escapees decided to stop and wait for the pack while Przemyslaw Niemiec (Lampre-Merida) continued on his own. Unfortunately, soon after catching the four riders, the chase in the peloton stopped and the Polish rider sailed away.
 
In a last attempt to take the win, Caja Rural - Seguros RGA's José Gonçalvesattacked solo on the final kilometers. Despite an impressive effort, Gonçalves didn’t have enough time to close the gap and had to settle for second place.Pello Bilbao finished 10th. Both riders have the same position in the general classification.
 
José Gonçalves said: “The start was very nervous with numerous crashes. It’s a big shame that we lost Barbero. I hope he will recover as soon as possible. Personally, I felt very good at the end of the stage. I was in a good position so I attacked with force trying to gain a few seconds.

”Monday’s stage is very difficult. I will have to wait and see how I feel. However, I’m happy with my current condition and I will keep trying”.

Lluis Mas: Did the peloton not know that Niemiec is a top rider?

Beauties of Turkey leader Lluís Mas said: “Being in the breakaway, when we saw the gap going down to only 47 seconds, we realized it would be difficult to make it to the finish so we stopped pulling but Niemiec went flat out and continued by himself. I don’t know if the people in the peloton didn’t know that he was away or if they didn’t know who Niemiec is but he’s a top rider! With three minutes lead, of course he could win the race.

”As I was in the breakaway, I thought of this beauties of Turkey classification that I won last year so I went for it again. I’ll try to win it again but it’s difficult because there’s only one sprint per day and it’s impossible to break away every day. However, I’ll do my best for this trophy.”

Continental rider beats the WorldTour sprinters in Turkey

Third placed Marco Zanotti said: “This makes me happy, even though it’s a bittersweet feeling because had it been a bunch sprint for the win, I might have won. I love those finales with 90° curves like this. Anyway, to make the podium in such an important race is great. We’re a small team [continental team Parkhotel Valkenburg] and this is the biggest race we get access to. It’s a great incentive for racing well.”

Remy Di Gregorio targets mountains jersey in Turkey

King of the Mountains Rémy Di Gregorio said: “It was an attack of strong men when we rode away from the bunch at the beginning of the race. I heard that eight riders were coming across and I thought that could make it a decisive move but only two of them arrived (Hansen and Mas). Then I heard that CCC and a sprinters’ team (Southeast-Venezuela) were pulling so we had no chance. It would have been nice to reach the finishing line with an advantage before the hilly stages. But that’s how it is.

”I’ve won the King of the Mountains price at the Tour La Provence, back at home, in February, and at the Criterium International in March. I’d like to do it here as well but it’s too early to make it a goal. This is new to me. I don’t know the climbs in Turkey.”

André Greipel to abandon the Tour of Turkey after stage 1 crash?

The stage was neutralized for a while after a massive crash in the beginning of the stage, André Greipel was one of the many victims. Further research has shown that he has a bruised left calf. Tomorrow he will take it easy andafter the race there will be an evaluation with the further stages in mind.

Crash-marred start in Turkish for Polish team

VERVA ActiveJet Team had Karel Hnik, Michal Podlaski and Pawel Cieslik in the peloton

”The stage was extremely nervous and dangerous. We raced almost all the time on the streets of Istanbul, where there was no lack of accidents and mechanicals. We were not spared, fortunately without serious consequences. Applause to Niemiec who outsmarted the peloton today,” said sports director Dariusz Banaszek.