International Presidency Turkey Tour

18-04-2009 17:19:47

Robert Förster has won the seventh stage of the Tour of Turkey and given the ProTour team based out of Dortmund its long expected second victory this season. After covering 114 kilometres from Finike to Antalya, Förster - for whom it was also the first win wearing the Milram jersey - beat Austrian Daniel Schorn (Elk Haus) and Marco Frapporti (CSF Navigare) in the sprint of a 25-men breakaway group. South African Daryl Impey (Barloworld), who finished the stage sixth-placed, defended his overall lead.

„Robert showed increasing form these last few days. This victory came exactly at the right time,” said a relieved Team Manager Gerry van Gerwen after the success. „The victory was long overdue after so many good performances and good results of the last few weeks. Robert wanted a win badly in Turkey, and he achieved it today,” added the Dutchman.

On the penultimate stage taking the riders to the holiday town of Antalya in perfect weather conditions, Team Milram had everything under control. Along with Förster, three other riders of the Team (Markus Fothen, Matthias Russ and Luca Barla) were present in a breakaway of 25 riders that marked the second part of the stage and extended its lead constantly. A great part of the work was done by the pros who held the pace high and crushed every attack immediately. On the last two kilometres, first Luca Barla, then Markus Fothen – who had already helped Gerald Ciolek to his stage win at the Mallorca Challenge – prepared the sprint for Robert Förster, who celebrated his victory extensively.