ProTeam Mauro Cuylits takes victory in first stage of Tour of Istanbul

The openings stage of Tour of Istanbul offered a challenging route of 150,1 kilometers through Åžile, featuring rolling climbs and a fast, tactical final along the Black Sea coast. Supposed by a strong team effort, Mauro Cuylits managed to sprint to stage victory. “I would like to thank the team for the hard work done all day. On the climbs I was just following all the time together with our GC rider Logan (Currie). After 5 kilometers I told my teammates that my legs were feeling very good and that I could go for a stage win.”

“I start really early with my sprint because I knew there was quite some backwind. And I just felt like my legs were not stopping, so I kept pulling. When I saw the finish line, I noticed that I was first and didn’t know what just happened”, he smiles.

With this victory, Mauro takes over the points’ and youth jersey from team mate Steffen De Schuyteneer, who became second in yesterday’s prologue. Next to that, Mauro will also start tomorrow’s stage wearing the leader’s jersey. 

Photo: Seppe Vangheluwe