British rider Adam Yates snatched the lead of the 50th Tour Of Turkey with a stunning victory on stage six in Selcuk.
On a 183km stage from Bodrum to Selcuk which was without Renshaw, Docker, Belkov, Paolini, Colli and Ponzi, Kamayshev, Krizek, Greipel, Aramendia, Kurek & Kreder got into an early break.
After 53kms, they were 5.30 ahead and after Kamyshev dropped off the pace, the gap which had dropped to 1.40 was down to 2.36 with fifty three kilometres remaining.
Twelve kilometres later and Andrei Greipel of Lotto took the Beauty Sprint as their lead to a peloton containing race leader Rein Taramae of Cofidis and Points leader Mark Cavendish dropped to 1.21.
The escaping group was caught with twenty kilometres left before Marc De Maar shot off to take the King Of the Mountains points on a category three climb.
The peloton was altogether going into the ancient city of Selcuk for the final climb which was 4k long and had ramps of 12% with 8% going up to the finish line.
With three kilometres left, Adam Hansen of Lotto put the hurt into those behind him, before riders from the Wanty Group team closed him down.
British rider Adam Yates of Orica Green Edge had got himself into the front of the peloton, knowing that if he could get seven seconds ahead of Taramae, he would take over in the blue jersey.
With just over a kilometre remaining, Yates went for it. Taramar tried to respond but was getting no help from those around him.
Yates kept going won in 4.11.46 but the group with Taramae sprinted for the line. It now down to the timekeepers but it was Adam Yates who took over as leader of the race by one second.
Formolo was second with Rebellin and Taramae both coming in seven seconds down.
Speaking about his win to the Tour of Turkey, Yates said: "Today, my team-mates kept me out of the wind all day, it was quite windy with lots of crosswinds. I didn’t have to spend any extra energy. They put me in a good position at the bottom of the climb and I only had to go from there.
"Anyway I had to leave it late because I was only six seconds behind and so we stuck to the plan and I went with just a kilometre to go and then it was pretty full gas from then.
" It’s hard to say how I feel about the victory, it’s only like five minutes ago but it’s my first pro win so it’s very special. I never really expected to compete at this level so soon. At the back of my mind I thought maybe in two or three years. But yeah I put on a lot of work in the winter and it’s paid off. "