Published on : 04/29/2026
The Polish rider pulled off a stunning sprint finish, winning by a whisker in Fethiye. He capped off a superb stage for Team Cofidis, who worked tirelessly from start to finish to set him up perfectly. This is the Polish rider’s first victory in three years, and he seized the opportunity to secure the team’s sixth win of the season.
He had come from a long way back in the final meters. Stanisław Aniolkowski produced an incredible effort in the closing stretch in Fethiye, catching all the other sprinters off guard. Only Canada’s Riley Pickrell managed to respond to the Polish rider’s move, but not enough to take the win. As soon as he crossed the line, Stan could celebrate, raising his arms before being congratulated by all his teammates.
The reward for a huge team effort
His victory is also a collective one. Throughout the stage, the Cofidis team was ever-present, setting the pace and putting their sprinter in the best possible position. Stan is also rewarded for his persistence, having come close to victory several times this season: 4th on Stage 4 of the Tour of Oman, 6th at the Bredene Koksijde Classic, and 4th at the Tour of Bruges. Earlier this week in Türkiye, he had already shown his form by finishing 5th on Stage 2. The Polish rider is finally rewarded for his efforts, earning his first win since 2023.
Stan thus becomes the fifth Cofidis rider to take a victory this season. With this collective performance and decisive move, the team continues to build on the strong momentum established since the start of the year. Within the squad, there is only one goal: keep it going by winning again.
“I’m absolutely delighted. It’s true that I’ve been waiting for this win for a long time. I’ve often finished in the top 10, in the top 5, but I just couldn’t seem to win. Today, the team did a brilliant job; they made sure I was in the best possible position for the final stretch. But more generally, I’d like to thank the whole team for believing in me and supporting me. I’ve always believed in myself, I’ve always worked hard, and I’ve never given up. I’m delighted to finally be rewarded!”