Stage 4 of the Tour of Istanbul is a punchy 7.5 km flat circuit race starting and finishing in Beykoz on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus. The short, technical layout rewards pure sprinters who can hold position through corners and explode in the final hundred metres. With no elevation to speak of, the day almost certainly ends in a bunch sprint contested by the fastest finishers in the race.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Giovanni Lonardi stands alone at the top. He is the only rider in this startlist to have won a flat-profile race in the past 90 days — claiming stage 1 of the Arctic Race of Norway — and his recent record across similar stages shows a level of consistency no rival can match. On a short, explosive circuit, he is the benchmark.
Polti
Polti
Giovanni Lonardi is the standout favourite for this flat sprint stage: he claimed victory in stage 1 of the Arctic Race of Norway among five similar-profile races recently, posting two top-3s and four top-5s overall. He also ranks among the highest-rated sprinters in this field, making him the man to beat in Beykoz.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Emilien Jeannière and Nicolò Buratti form a strong second tier. Jeannière is statistically the most potent sprinter in this field and has the TotalEnergies train to deliver him to the line; Buratti is MBH Bank CSB's finisher and has the pedigree to challenge when the sprint is tight. Either could steal the stage if Lonardi is caught out of position.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Emilien Jeannière is the top-rated sprinter in this startlist and has backed that up with a top-5 finish in similar-profile racing recently. He is Lonardi's most credible rival and TotalEnergies' designated finisher for this flat stage.
MBH Bank CSB
MBH Bank CSB
Nicolò Buratti carries one of the stronger sprint ratings in the peloton and, while his recent flat-stage results do not show a podium, he is a proven fast finisher at this level who should be in contention when the sprint opens up.
★★
Dark Horses
Mirco Maestri, Florian Dauphin, and Mauro Cuylits are the dark horses. Maestri's high volume of flat-race appearances recently gives him race sharpness; Dauphin gives TotalEnergies a backup option; and Cuylits is a dangerous finisher with a sprint profile that suits this circuit well.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Florian Dauphin brings a competitive sprint and has recent experience on flat-stage racing, giving TotalEnergies a useful secondary option behind Jeannière. A well-organised team finish could see him sneak into the top five.
Lotto DT
Lotto DT
Mauro Cuylits is confirmed on the startlist and owns a solid sprint rating that places him in the upper tier of this field. On a short, technical circuit in Beykoz he represents a genuine dark-horse threat for a top-five result.
Polti
Polti
Mirco Maestri has been one of the most active riders in similar-profile races recently, accumulating valuable race sharpness across many starts. His sprint is among the best in the Polti squad and he could benefit from a strong team lead-out on a flat 7.5 km loop.
★
Ones to Watch
Manuel Peñalver, Michele Gazzoli, Matys Grisel, and Marcin Budzinski round out the top ten as riders to watch. Peñalver and Grisel both posted top-10s in recent flat-stage racing, while Gazzoli and Budzinski are capable finishers who could benefit from chaotic final corners or a lead-out that doesn't fully materialise for the favourites.
Polti
Polti
Manuel Peñalver managed a top-10 in recent flat-profile racing and ranks just below the top two sprinters on raw speed. A one-to-watch for a place in the final dash.
MBH Bank CSB
MBH Bank CSB
Marcin Budzinski is confirmed on the startlist, has a well-rounded profile for a flat sprint, and can call on MBH Bank CSB teammates including Buratti for positional support — giving him an outside chance of a surprise result.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Matys Grisel registered a top-10 in recent flat-profile racing and, though the Lotto Intermarché squad may lack a lead-out train to match the bigger teams, he has shown he can end up in the mix.
Solution Tech NIPPO
Solution Tech NIPPO
Michele Gazzoli has been active in similar conditions recently without breaking through for a result, yet his sprint ability is competitive enough that a good position at the bell could yield a top-ten finish.
Verdict
Giovanni Lonardi is the clear favourite: his recent win in stage 1 of the Arctic Race of Norway and a string of flat-stage top results make him the man to beat. Emilien Jeannière, the field's highest-rated sprinter, and Nicolò Buratti are the chief threats to deny him.