Tour of Turkey: Stanisław Aniołkowski speeds to first win in three years in stage 4 bunch sprint finish

Stanisław Aniołkowski secured a significant victory on stage 4 of the Tour of Turkey, ending a near three-year wait for a win. The Polish sprinter, riding for Cofidis, capitalised on a well-executed team effort to triumph in a bunch sprint finish from Marmaris to Fethiye. He edged out Riley Pickrell of Modern Adventure and Davide Persico of MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort, showcasing his sprinting prowess after carefully timing his effort to overtake rivals who either launched too early or were caught out by positioning. The stage itself was marked by a high pace from the outset, with the peloton maintaining speeds over 50kph. A seven-rider breakaway formed midway through the race, featuring riders like Dario Belletta and Jonah Killy, but was steadily reeled in by the chasing peloton led by Alpecin-Premier Tech and Equipo Kern Pharma, intent on protecting the overall leader Iván Parra. The terrain included a challenging third-category climb with 37km to go, which fragmented the race before regrouping on the coastal run-in, setting the scene for a dramatic sprint finish. Aniołkowski praised his team’s efforts and expressed relief and confidence following his victory. He acknowledged the crucial role Cofidis played in controlling the race and creating opportunities for him, particularly after being boxed in during the final kilometre. The win not only marked a personal milestone but also served as a confidence boost for his upcoming sprints in the race. Meanwhile, Iván Parra retained the overall lead, continuing to hold a strong position in the general classification. The stage highlighted the tactical complexity of sprint finishes in stage races, with teams like Modern Adventure, Cofidis, and Flanders-Baloise vying for control in the closing kilometres. Despite early attempts by riders such as Fernando Gaviria to launch long-range sprints, it was Aniołkowski’s perfectly timed effort that ultimately prevailed. This result adds intrigue to the sprint battles in the remaining stages of the Tour of Turkey, signalling that Aniołkowski could be a key contender in the fast finishes to come.