Just 24 hours after his first success in Selçuk, Tom Crabbe repeats his performance at the Turkey Tour 2026, winning the Aydın-Marmaris stage of 152.8 kilometers in a sprint finish.

In absolutely enviable form, the young Belgian rider from Team Flanders Baloise this time beat Sente Sentjens (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Cesar Macias (Burgos Burpellet BH) and Davide Ballerini (XDS Astana), thus consolidating his leadership in the general classification.

THE RACE

The pace was absolutely scorching from the start with several riders attempting in succession to break away from the peloton. The initial attempts saw Yunus Emre Yilmaz (Istanbul Team), Jelle Vermote (Tarteletto - Isorex), Mehmet Cicek (Konya Büyükşehir Belediye Spor) and Ahmet Örken (Spor Toto Cycling Team) among the protagonists, but none of them, despite attacking at different moments, managed to make a difference.

Success came instead after about thirty kilometers to Tomas Barta (Istanbul Team), Ali Egin, Muhammed Erkan and Mustafa Tarakci (Konya Büyükşehir Belediye Spor), the red jersey wearer Michal Pomorski (ATT Investments), Feritcan Samli and Kaan Soylu Ozkalbim (Spor Toto Cycling Team), Arda Terikdag (Muğla Büyükşehir Belediyesi Spor Kulübü) and Axandre Van Petegem (Tartelletto-Isorex) who, together, managed to get the green light from the peloton.

Soon, the nine riders managed to build a 2'30" gap between themselves and the group which, controlling them at a distance, allowed them to contest the first intermediate sprint (1st Tarakci) and the third-category mountain pass (won by Pomorski) after which only Egin, Samli and Van Petegem remained at the front alongside the Pole. The quartet decided not to wait for the riders who had fallen behind and, cooperating, proceeded compactly with approximately two minutes advantage until Alpecin-Premier Tech, Flanders Baloise and Cofidis in the main group raised the pace.

This acceleration quickly reduced the gap and, after the second intermediate sprint of the day (taken by Samli), the breakaway riders had little more than a minute to defend, a margin too small to prevent, in the following kilometers, the inevitable regrouping. Back together at -13 km from the finish, the group began the intense and adrenaline-fueled phase of preparation for the final sprint which, after the last climb at -10 km from the finish (where Timothy Dupont and Simon Dehairs lost contact due to the pace set by XDS Astana), saw Crabbe deliver a splendid second victory ahead of Sentjens (achieving his best career result in a .Pro race) and Macias (his second podium of 2026).

Just missing the podium was Davide Ballerini who, after his teammates' work on the final climb of the day, finished fourth, becoming the first Italian in a finishing order that also saw Lorenzo Conforti (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) and Stefano Oldani (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) close in the top ten in 7th and 8th place respectively.

STAGE RESULTS

1. Tom Crabbe (Team Flanders–Baloise) – 3:35:32

2. Sente Sentjens (Alpecin–Deceuninck) – s.t.

3. César Macías (Burgos Burpellet BH) – s.t.

4. Davide Ballerini (XDS Astana Team) – s.t.

5. Stanisław Aniołkowski (Cofidis) – s.t.

6. Dominik Neuman (ATT Investments) – s.t.

7. Lorenzo Conforti (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) – s.t.

8. Stefano Oldani (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA) – s.t.

9. Jelle Vermoote (Tarteletto–Isorex) – s.t.

10. Marc Brustenga (Equipo Kern Pharma) – s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Tom Crabbe (Team Flanders–Baloise) – 6:59:09

2. Sente Sentjens (Alpecin–Premier Tech) +0:14

3. Davide Persico (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) +0:16

4. César Macías (Burgos Burpellet BH) +0:16

5. Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA) +0:20

6. Stanisław Aniołkowski (Cofidis) +0:20

7. Stefano Oldani (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA) +0:20

8. Marc Brustenga (Equipo Kern Pharma) +0:20

9. Scott McGill (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) +0:20

10. Davide Ballerini (XDS Astana Team) +0:20

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points Classification: Tom Crabbe (BEL/Flanders-Baloise)

Mountain Classification: Michal Pomorski (POL/ATT Investments)