English
Antalya: 18/04/2009
MILRAM pro Robert F̦rster 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, F̦rster Рfor whom it was also the first win wearing the MILRAM jersey Рbeat 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 F̦rster, 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 MILRAM pros who held the pace high and crushed every attack immediately. On the last two kilometres, first Luca Barla, then Markus Fothen Рwho had already helped Gerald Ciolek to his stage win at the Mallorca Challenge Рprepared the sprint for Robert F̦rster, who celebrated his victory extensively.
Result:
1 Robert Förster (GER) Team MILRAM
2 Daniel Schorn (AUT) Elk Haus
3 Marco Frapporti (ITA) CSF Group – Navigare
4 Ruggero Marzoli (ITA) Acqua & Sapone – Caffe Mokambo
5 Stefan Rucker (AUT) Elk Haus
6 Daryl Impey (RSA) Barloworld
7 Radoslav Rogina (CRO) Loborika
8 Diego Milan Jimenez (ESP) Acqua & Sapone – Caffe Mokambo
9 Davide Malacarne (ITA) Quick Step
10 Thomas Rabou (NED) Rabobank Continental
The 2009 stages:
April 12 – stage 1: Istanbul 142 km
April 13 – stage 2: Izmir – Kusadasi 132,5 km
April 14 – stage 3: Kusadasi – Bodrum 166,1 km
April 15 – stage 4: Bodrum – Marmaris 166,9 km
April 16 – stage 5: Marmaris – Fethiye 130 km
April 17 – stage 6: Fethiye – Finike 194 km
April 18 – stage 7: Finike – Antalya 114,5 km
April 19 – stage 8: Antalya – Alanya (166 km)
Total distance: 1212 kilometres
The MILRAM roster:
Luca Barla (ITA/Sanremo-Imperia), Robert Förster (GER/Leipzig), Markus Fothen (BEL/Kaarst), Artur Gajek (GER/Bergisch Gladbach), Christian Kux (GER/Chemnitz), Matthias Russ (GER/Oberried), Wim Stroetinga (NED/Oldeberkoop), Paul Voß (GER/Bielefeld)
Sports director:
Vittorio Algeri (ITA)