Returning after clocking up three stage victories between them last year, Theo Bos and Mark Renshaw will aim for more success in this year’s Presidential Tour of Turkey. The Blanco Pro Cycling riders are the latest to be confirmed for the 2.HC race, which begins this Sunday and runs for eight stages.
Bos has taken four victories thus far this year. He was successful on a stage of the Volta al Algarve and on two in the Tour de Langkawi, and also picked up stage one in the Criterium International. That tally puts in on course to beat his 2012 victory total of seven wins; having taken four victories in 2010 and five one year later, the former world track spring champion’s steady progression in this different wing of the sport is continuing.
“My goal was to every year win one more race than the previous year, but I did much better last season and I cannot limit my progression to that scheme,” he said, talking about that improvement.
As regards the Presidential Tour of Turkey, he’s ridden the race several times and is looking forward to the 2013 edition. “I love this race and this country, I’m delighted to be back.”
Bos was victorious last year on stages one and eight, and was backed in those sprints by Renshaw, who previously was Mark Cavendish’s right hand man. Renshaw himself got a chance to spray the champagne, beating compatriot Matt Goss (Orica GreenEdge) to win stage four into Marmaris.
“We're coming back with similar ambitions. Our Giro team is built around Robert Gesink for the mountain and as a result, all our sprinters have been called up for the Tour of Turkey, which suits us well since there are several opportunities for a mass sprint,” he said. Thus far this year he has grabbed one win, the Clasica Almeria. He was also second and third in sprints in the Santos Tour Down Under.
“The race will dictate but we have a strong team and we're going to fight hard to make sure there are as many bunch sprints as possible.”
The two will be backed by several riders who were part of the leadout for Bos in the Tour de Langkawi, namely Jos van Emden, Tom Leezer, Jetse Bol and Graeme Brown. The remaining two places will be taken by Dutchman Rick Flens and Germany's Robert Wagner.
The team will have to perform very strongly to match the three stage wins of last year. Also set to take part are Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol), Marcel Kittel (Argos Shimano), Gerald Ciolek (MTN Qhubeka), Andrea Guardini (Astana), Bryan Coquard (Europcar), Francesco Chicchi (Vini Fantini – Selle Italia), Leigh Howard and Aidis Kruopis (both Orica GreenEdge), Andy Fenn (Omega Pharma Quick Step), Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox) and Francesco Lasca (Caja Rural).
That lineup is a powerful one and will ensure plenty of good sprinting action in the race. The Presidential Tour of Turkey gets underway in three days time in Alanya, Turkey.