Polga Leads Team Novo Nordisk on Demanding Stage 5 at Tour of Türkiye

Stage 5 of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye delivered another challenging day for the peloton, with rolling terrain and multiple climbs testing the legs ahead of the race’s decisive mountain stages.

Team Novo Nordisk remained active throughout the day, focused on conserving energy while staying well-positioned in a fast and aggressive race. Antonio Polga emerged as the team’s best finisher, crossing the line in 28th place after a determined performance on the climbs.

The Italian rider showed resilience across both key ascents of the stage. Despite briefly losing contact near the summits, he was able to fight his way back each time, staying in contention within the peloton.

“It was full gas all day in the peloton,” said Polga. “I tried to manage my effort on the two climbs. I lost a few meters near the top both times but was able to come back each time.”

Polga also highlighted the importance of teamwork in navigating the demanding stage, with valuable support coming from teammate Sam Brand throughout the day.

“I really have to thank Sam for his help all day. He did a great job with bottles and food, and especially with positioning me in the peloton,” he added.

With another solid performance in the books, Team Novo Nordisk now turns its attention to the race’s most demanding challenge yet. Stage 6 will take the peloton to the summit of Feslikan, marking the queen stage of the race and a key moment for the general classification.