Jeremy Yates Reports from Tour of Turkey

Today had it all, 210km into a headwind. Rain, Crosswind, crashes, 2000m of climbing and suffering like never before.

We started the day in rain and with a 5km climb from the start before we hit the biggie. It was battle stations from kilometre zero. Everyone wanted to be in the day's breakaway, but nothing would stick. After 20km we hit a 9km climb that only 40-50 guys made the top of. I was ticket number 48 or 49 and hanging by a thread.

There was flat for ages so no chance of regrouping on a desent. This didn't come for another hour, when it did I was caught behind a crash on a mud covered corner. We were doing 70kph and I came down hard, sliding for good long while, wrecking my bike and picking up more than a few grazes.

After some convincing and a hose down from the race doctor with alcohol spray (ouch) I got going on the reserve bike and began the grind to catch the front. I made contact and continued to suffer the rest of the stage, up and down hill, into head/crosswind and on roads as rough as they are allowed to be, before being dug up again.

To finish we had a 40km! (yes 40km) desent to the final 1km climb to the finish. I'm sure I caught Pettachi rehearsing his victory speech with still 20km to go- he won easy. I gave everything just to finish at the back of our group, pretty battered and sore but with bunch time I moved up to 24th GC only 13sec down on race leader (who would be Pettachi if he didn't cop a minute penalty on the first stage for thumping someone over the line). The main bunch averaged 32kph for the stage and lost over 45min.

Tomorrow's 220km is forecast for more rain, wind and hills.