CYCLING

Daily Diary: Ambrose talks Turkey - Stage 3

By Aaron S Lee

Team Novo Nordisk neo-pro Scott Ambrose takes on three categorised climbs over stage 3 of the Tour of Turkey and lives tell NZ Bike all about it.

KEMER, Turkey—Team Novo Nordisk neo-pro Scott Ambrose (NZL) started stage 3 of the 51st Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey still unsure exactly what type of rider he was – sprinter, climber, all-rounder – but after racing over three categorised climbs on Tuesday, the 20-year-old Kiwi has come to the conclusion that hills are not for him.

However, 43-year-old Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polowice) had little problem conquering the three climbs, including the Cat 1 finish in Elmali where he crossed the line seven seconds ahead of his breakaway companion Kristijan Durasek (Lampre-Merida).

Eduardo Sepúlveda (Bretagne-Séché Environnement) finished third 50 seconds off the new turquoise leaders jersey holder.

The Italian supplants previous race leader Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep), who won the opening two sprint stages and conceded 29 minutes 11 seconds on stage 3 to Rebellin.
Ambrose is 10 minutes 22 seconds down, but the Tour of Philippines stage- and points winner sits down with NZ Bike Magazine to give his personal account of all the action on day three, and shares his thoughts on stage 4.

Scott’s diary entry: Stage 3 – Kemer – Elmali, 165km
Ouch, that was hard. I made it over the top with our team leader Javier Mejías (ESP) and managed to get him water, so I did what I could but that climb is too hard for me – just too long.  I think I’d have to go on a pretty long diet before I make the transition to becoming a hill climber.

We were aggressive from the start again trying to get in the breakaway, but it didn’t work out today. So then we changed our focus to keeping our general classification (GC) rider Javier safe, which we managed to do to the finish. Javier, Charles Planet (FRA) and myself managed to get over the second climb with the lead group. We hung on the to bottom of the climb and I managed to get food and water for them and brought them to the bottom and then it was up to Javier to get up the climb which he did really well and came over in 12th position on the stage and on GC – two minutes four seconds back on stage winner and new race leader Davide Rebellin.

The result sets Javier up really well and it was a climb that didn’t fully suit him I don’t think. The next hill climb coming up may give us a better opportunity to work for him and help him achieve an even greater result and move up the classification.

Riding up the top of the second climb it was so hot and I was sweating so much. As a rider you are suffering and all you can think about is trying to get cold water, but you don’t want to drink because your rhythm will be ruined, but you do need to drink because you are dehydrated. It’s those little things that make it that much harder with the hostile weather conditions.

Coming over the second climb it was pretty windy and I think Astana was on the front. It was pretty strung out with us all going 50-plus km/h pretty much all the way to the bottom of the last climb, so if you weren’t in that group over the top of the second climb your day was over. Luckily I was in the first group.

Now I know how to position myself better and I’m more confident riding single file right on the edge of the road where previously I’ve had some crashes. As I mentioned on my first diary entry, racing in Brasil last month brought my confidence back up and I can see that experience paying dividends now.

Once my job was complete, I rode my tempo to the top of the final climb at Elmali trying not to waste too much energy and save my legs for the days coming up.

You know what type of rider you are and you know how your legs feel. If you’re not feeling too well it’s going to make you rest and focus on the next bit and not bury yourself 100 percent and not be able to recover the next day. After all, it’s an eight-day race and if you destroy yourself in the first three days it makes for a long tour to the finish.

Tomorrow looks like the sprinters who can climb will have the best shot at a podium. Our sprinters Andrea Peron (ITA) and Martijn Verschoor (NED) are good climbers as well, and we will try to position them at the bottom of the climb and support them up the last climb for the decent in to the finish.

I think we can have a good crack at it.
Until then, stay tuned…
-Scott Ambrose







Tomorrow’s entry: Stage 4 – Fethiye – Marmaris, 132km
Stage results (top 5)
1. Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice)
2. Kristijan Durasek (Lampre - Merida)
3. Eduardo Sepulveda (Bretagne-Séché Environnement)
4. Jay McCarthy (Tinkoff-Saxo)
5. Serge Paulwels (MTN-Qhubeka)

General classification (top 5)
1. Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice)   00”
2. Kristijan Durasek (Lampre - Merida)    07”
3. Eduardo Sepulveda (Bretagne-Séché Environnement) 50”
4. Jay McCarthy (Tinkoff-Saxo)            1’20”
5. Serge Paulwels (MTN-Qhubeka)    1’23”

Aaron S. Lee is a cycling and triathlon columnist for Eurosport and a guest contributor to NZ Bike Magazine. Image credit: Kei Tsuji | Tim De Waele