Patrick Bevin: "I am very happy with this form"

Patrick Bevin has had a complicated start to his season, as had Israel - Premier Tech, however today's seventh stage of the Tour of Turkey proved to be highly successful for both as the team worked on a raid in the hilly route, and launched Bevin into the stage win and overall classification lead.

“It was actually a really tough stage. On the last steep climb of the day we took the initiative with the team. Because of the hard pace of my team, many riders got into trouble. It was a really good race from us," Bevin said after the finish. With 30 kilometers to go Israel stretched the peloton in a small descent and Bevin attacked in the final climb of the day. Having ridden with Jay Vine and Nicolas Edet, they've distanced race leader Eduardo Sepúlveda and built a winning gap.

“I did most of the work in the leading group. I didn't get much help from the other two riders, only Jay rode along every now and then. Nicolas was only in our wheels. Fortunately, the ball eventually fell in my court. For me this is really a boost, it's my first stage race after my injury. I am very happy with this form,” he said.

Bevin has proven his excellent form by, despite putting in the most work, responding to the attacks of his group companions and then distancing them in the final few hundred meters. He's won the stage, and with 41 seconds on the road won over the Argentinian, he's also jumped to the race lead.

"That will be very nervous. So far it has been very successful for us, hopefully we can finish it tomorrow," he concluded. Bevin only has one stage where he will need to defend his lead, however he has shown the form necessary to do so.