Trinity Racing team mates, Kevin McCambridge and Dean Harvey, have experienced very mixed fortunes at the Tour of Istanbul (2.2), with Harvey crashing out and McCambridge riding strongly up the road.
While 130 riders started the race three days ago, the field is down to just 78 ahead of tomorrow's final stage. A very large number of those abandons, including Harvey (20), were out on the first stage, as early as the neutralised section; the Irish rider suffering nasty facial injuries.
The opening day of action - 176.6km starting and finishing in Arnavutköy - was marred by very heavy rainfall, with McCambridge telling stickybottle the rain water was up to the hubs on his wheels at some points.
"I've never had a race like it," he said. "The rain was up to axle-deep at times, with thunder and lightening. The road was like ice with the rain."
Advertisement
Harvey crashed very early on that opening stage, falling hard in the neutralised section and suffering road rash and bruising to his face. As his injuries were severe, and involved a blow to the head, he took no further part in the race.
While he suffered no broken bones, that was a major disappointment for him, especially after his 13th place in the U23 TT at the recent Europeans suggested he was in very good form.
Related News
McCambridge rode well on the opening stage, making the front group of about 20 riders when the field split in the crosswinds. However, a small crash in the group sent him off the road with about 4km to go. And while he remained upright, he lost contact with the group and trailed home in 26th position, some 3:47 down on winner Gustav Wang (Restaurant Suri-Carl Ras).
On yesterday's stage 2 - some 132.2km starting and finishing in Şile - 21-year-old McCambridge was on the attack for most of the day, only being caught very close to the finish.
He made the front group of about 12 riders over the first climb of the day, about 20km into the stage. And when the cooperation from that group was not forthcoming, he attacked with about 70km remaining.
McCambridge initially rode solo for a period before being joined by Timothy DuPont (Tarteletto-Isorex). They combined well together to pull away from the remains of the bunch. However, they were eventually overhauled with about 3km to go; McCambridge finishing 24th, some 1:52 behind winner Daniel Stampe (Restaurant Suri-Carl Ras).
On today's stage 3, which took the riders 132km on undulating terrain, starting and finishing in Beykoz, McCambridge placed 33rd at 5:09. With one stage remaining he is now 23rd overall at 9:26.
