Tour of Turkey: Davide Ballerini wins stage 7 amid neutralisation in slippery Antalya

Davide Ballerini secured a significant victory on stage 7 of the Tour of Turkey, marking his first win in over three years. The 152.8km stage, starting and finishing in Antalya, was marred by persistent rain that rendered the city-centre roads dangerously slippery. The hazardous conditions led to numerous crashes early on, including a notable incident where half the peloton fell while negotiating a tricky left-hand bend over tram tracks. Due to the treacherous weather and road conditions, race organisers decided to neutralise the final 15 kilometres of the stage for general classification purposes. This meant that GC times were taken before the descent into Antalya, and no bonus seconds were awarded at intermediate sprints or the finish line. Consequently, Sebastian Berwick retained his overall lead with a five-second advantage over his closest rival Ivan Sosa, who was unable to stay with the main group on the final run-in. Despite the neutralisation of the GC battle, the stage concluded with a highly competitive bunch sprint. Ballerini launched a late surge from the back of the peloton, powering up the right-hand side to claim the win in wet conditions that clearly held personal significance, judging by his jubilant celebration. Marceli Boguslawski and two-time stage winner Tom Crabbe also featured prominently in the sprint but were unable to overtake Ballerini, finishing second and third respectively. The outcome of stage 7 sets the scene for a decisive final day, with Berwick maintaining a slim lead ahead of what is expected to be another bunch sprint finale. The neutralisation and challenging weather conditions added an unusual dynamic to the race, emphasising rider safety while preserving the competitive spirit of the event. The Tour of Turkey now heads into its concluding stage with the overall classification finely poised.