Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Mark Cavendish finished 2nd in a 183km Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey on Thursday where his teammates were forced to take up the chase of a breakaway, while trying to conserve riders for the anticipated bunch sprint finale.
The peloton caught the break with 5km to go, and OPQS still had some riders left to support Cavendish for his attempt at a fourth stage win. Gianni Meersman, Gert Steegmans, Alessandro Petacchi, and Mark Renshaw peeled off one-by-one after taking long pulls on the front for the Manx Missile.
Renshaw dropped off Cavendish with a little more than 200m to go. Elia Viviani (Cannondale) was able to launch a little later, and after a close battle into a headwind, Viviani crossed the line with the win over Cavendish in the points jersey. Kristian Sbaragli (MTN-Qhubeka) was 3rd.
OPQS looks next to 183.1km Stage 6. Friday's stage will be a finale for the climbers, as there is a summit finish in Selcuk.