With an uphill finish on the menu at the Tour of Turkey next week, BMC is hoping Nicolas Roche and Patrick Bevin can do the business (Photo: Chris Auld)

Nicolas Roche eyes Tour of Turkey uphill finish

Nearing the end of his tenure with BMC Racing, Nicolas Roche will aim for a general classification result with the squad at the Tour of Turkey.

The race, which begins next Tuesday, is generally one with sprinting and climbing days.

Sam Bennett, who also rides this year, sprinted to four stage wins last year. However, the general classification was decided on the one hilly stage of six 12 months ago.

BMC is going into this year's race aiming for stage wins via Jempy Drucker on the sprinters’ days.

However, stage 4 is 205.5km into Selcuk and it features and uphill finish, where Roche hopes to feature.

The team said the Irishman and Kiwi Pat Bevin would be the men for that stage, and the general classification.

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However, first and foremost the team was hoping to target a stage victory earlier in the race with Drucker.

As well as Nicolas Roche, Bevin and Drucker, also in the team is Tom Bohli along with Brent Bookwalter, Kilian Frankiny and Danilo Wyss.

"I think we are heading to the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey with a strong and well-balanced team,” said sports director Klaas Lodewyck.

“For those stages that come down to a bunch sprint, Jempy Drucker, who we know can be up there, will be our leader.

“Then, I think Patrick Bevin is going to come into the race with some strong late-season form and we can look to do something with him on the uphill finish alongside Nicolas Roche.

“We will have to see how the race situation develops day by day but firstly, we would like to go for a stage win and then see what we can do to make the best result possible on the general classification.”