Davide Ballerini triumphs on the seventh stage of the 61st Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye
Antalya – 2 May 2026 – Italian sprinter Davide Ballerini of the XDS Astana Team secured a memorable victory on the seventh day of the 61st Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye, conquering the 152.8‑kilometre loop that began and ended in Antalya.
The stage, classified as a hilly course, suited fast finishers who could endure a few short climbs before the final sprint. Ballerini, 31, timed his effort perfectly, launching his sprint in the last 300 metres to cross the line in 3 hours 19 minutes 41 seconds, edging out Poland’s Marceli Boguslawski (ATT Investments) and the Dutchman Tom Crabbe (Team Flanders‑Baloise), who took second and third respectively.
His win also earned him the green points jersey, while the white jersey for the best Turkish rider remained with Konya BBSK’s Mustafa Tarakçı. The overall race leader, Australian Sebastian Berwick of Caja Rural‑Seguros RGA, retained the coveted turquoise general classification (GC) jersey and the red jersey for the best young rider, posting a cumulative time of 24 hours 22 minutes 44 seconds after eight stages.
### A stage in context
The Tour of Türkiye, a UCI ProSeries event on the Europe Tour calendar, stretched over eight days from 26 April to 3 May, covering a total of 1 131.2 km. The race routes showcased Turkey’s diverse geography, winding through the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, the rugged Taurus‑Mountains, and finally the capital, Ankara. This edition featured 161 riders from 27 countries, representing three WorldTeams, fourteen ProTeams and six Continental squads.
Stage 7 was the penultimate day of the race. After a week of flat sprint stages, hillier routes and a decisive summit finish on stage 3 that saw Colombia’s Iván Sosa claim the leader’s jersey, the overall classification had already settled into a tight battle among the top ten. Ballerini’s win did not dramatically alter the GC but highlighted the strength of the XDS Astana squad, which already had a strong presence in the mountains classification through riders such as Nicolas Vinokurov and Henok Mulubrhan.
### Ballerini’s performance
Davide Ballerini, a former world champion at the junior level and a seasoned rider on the WorldTour, had been targeting the points competition throughout the tour. Prior to stage 7, he sat eighth in the points tally with 12 points, just behind the stage‑winner Tom Crabbe, who led the classification with 30 points. By winning the stage, Ballerini added 12 points to his total, moving him up to third place in the points classification.
His sprint was characterised by a long‑range acceleration out of the final climb’s neutral zone, catching his rivals before the finish line’s last 200 metres. The Italian’s positioning behind the lead-out train of his teammate Lev Gonov allowed him to choose the perfect moment to unleash his power, a tactic that paid off handsomely.
### Reactions from riders and teams
“It’s a great day for me and the team,” Ballerini said in the post‑race interview. “Antalya is a beautiful city and the fans gave us an amazing atmosphere. I knew the finish would be fast, and thanks to the great work of my teammates, I could be in the right spot at the right time.”
Team director Gustav Krause (XDS Astana) praised the collective effort: “Davide’s victory is a result of meticulous planning and the support of his teammates throughout the race. We’ve shown we can compete on both flat and hilly terrain, and today’s win proves our squad’s depth.”
Second‑placed Boguslawski remarked, “The race was very tight. I was close to the front all day, and Tom’s fast finish forced us to hold on. Congratulations to Davide – a well‑deserved victory.”
Meanwhile, GC leader Sebastian Berwick, who finished safely in the peloton, commented on his own objectives: “I’m focused on protecting the lead until Ankara. The team is working hard to control any attacks, and I’m confident we’ll finish strong.”
### Impact on the remaining stage
The final stage, a 105.2‑km circuit around Ankara, will be a flat sprint, offering a last chance for sprinters to claim a stage win and for the points classification to be decided. With Ballerini now third in the points race and Berwick maintaining a comfortable lead of over a minute on his closest GC rivals, the showdown in the Turkish capital is set to be a tactical affair.
Organisers have hailed the 2026 edition as a success, noting the flawless coordination, the enthusiastic crowd turnout – especially in Antalya, where more than 30 000 spectators lined the route – and the high level of competition among international teams.
### Looking ahead
For Ballerini, the victory adds an important neon sign to his palmarès, reaffirming his status as a consistent sprinter capable of handling undulating terrain. The XDS Astana Team will aim to continue supporting its riders in the points and mountains competitions, while also seeking a strong team‑classification finish.
Fans can follow live updates of the final stage and the overall results on the official Tour of Türkiye website and on major cycling news portals such as Ansar al‑Adl (AA), CyclingNews and ProCyclingStats.
As the race draws to a close, the Turkish cycling community celebrates another successful edition of a race that not only showcases the country’s scenic routes but also cements its place on the international racing calendar.