Navardauskas remains in touch in Turkey

  • 2011-04-28
  • Jared Grellet

FETHIYE, Turkey – Lithuanian cyclist Ramunas Navardauskas remains tied for 10th position after five stages of the eight stage Presidential Tour of Turkey, despite finishing nearly 12 minutes behind the stage five winner.

 

Beginning the fifth stage tied for third spot – seven seconds behind race leader Bartosz Huzarski of Poland – it looked as if Navardauskas would drop out of recognition following the 218km stage five from Denizli to Fethiye with a group of 10 riders breaking away from the peloton midway through the stage to eventually finish 11 minutes, 55 seconds ahead of the chasing bunch.

 

Navardauskas however, positioned himself well in the chasing bunch to finish fourth in the peloton and 14th overall for the stage.

 

He now sits in 10th spot with 10 other riders; 11 minutes and 52 seconds behind new race leader, Garmin-Cervelo teammate Thomas Peterson of the United States.

 

It has been a fine week of racing for Navardauskas to date, finishing fifth on stage three and fourth on stage four. Race commentators originally credited the Lithuanian with third position on stage four – the tour’s most difficult stage – before official results would see him moved off the podium into fourth.

 

With Peterson now in the lead it is likely Navardauskas will take on the role of domestique over the remaining three stages in hope of helping his team mate to retain the blue jersey which is awarded to the Tour’s best overall rider.