With a long mountain top finish it was a day for climbers to prove their strength in the Tour of Turkey, on a 37 minute climb where in 2022 Jay Vine, Nairo Quintana and Eduardo Sepúlveda battled for the win. With a high pace and new best time on the climb, 23-year-old Dutchman Frank van den Broek was the fastest rider, after Paul Double set the pace in the last third of the climb.
It was the only stage for climbers in the 8-day stage race in Turkey, the stage before the climb was easy meaning controlling the break did not present many difficulties. The winner of the mighty Spil Dağı – Mount Spil (13.5 km, 7.32%) would likely also win the GC, given the bonus seconds at the finish. One of the race favourites, Victor Langellotti, spent 2,443 kilojoules for 3:30h, which is 11.45 kj/kg/h, a low intensity. Given these fresh legs and the low starting altitude for the climb, everyone would be close to their max…
