Wout Poels takes his first win of 2025 as he conquers brutal Tour of Turkey queen stage

XDS Astana Team are having a fabulous season and this afternoon at the Tour of Turkey their run of wis continues as Wout Poels took home the queen stage of the race. It was a very difficult summit finish that saw the two teams battling for the World Tour position go head-to-head with two riders each.

The queen stage of the race only had 115 kilometers in distance, however it packed difficult climbs from start to finish and the brutal summit finish at Akyaka (9.1 kilometers at 9.7%). Without a doubt, the most important stage of the race, and one in which the riders also faced bad weather, which caused an important crash right before the final ascent.

Gorka Sorarrain of Caja Rural was the last rider to get caught from the breakaway right inside the 7-kilometer to go mark, and very shortly after Astana's work turned into an offensive as Wout Poels attacked the steep climb. However he was followed by a Team Picnic PostNL rider, and soon a small group formed at the head of the race which would battle for the stage win. However with 2.5 kilometers to go the Dutchman would attack again and this time around he wasn't followed. Guillermo Juan Martínez put on a chase, with Poels' teammate Harold Martin López followed his wheel. Poels took the win, making it a one-two with López sprinting to second behind.