Bikers hit the road for Tour of Turkey
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Nisan 11, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Many international riders are set to hit the road, as the Tour of Turkey, the country’s oldest and most prestigious cycling event starts this weekend.
The 45th edition of the Tour of Turkey, or the Presidential Cycling Tour, will stage a seven-leg race between 160 cyclists from 160 countries pedaling their way from Ä°zmir to Alanya on a route that spans the coasts on the Aegean and Mediterranean regions.
Despite having a long history, the tour was virtually recreated last year, and took important steps to become a high-profile event on the cycling calendar, inviting prominent cyclists and teams to the tour.
One of them, last year’s winner David Garcia of the Xacobeo Galicia team is happy to return to Turkey for the tour.
"I have good memories of Turkey and of the Tour of Turkey," said the Spaniard on the tour’s Web site. "For me it was a very enjoyable experience. I have never been in Turkey before and found out a country very interesting, with very beautiful landscape and very nice from the touristic and cultural point of view, although in competition gives you little time to see."Â
Well organized
Garcia praised the organization as well. "About the sporty aspect, I found a very well organized turn and above all, a team that put much effort into doing the right things and make the Tour of Turkey a great race," he said.
The tour starts with the Istanbul leg on Sunday, before the teams will be transferred to İzmir for the second stage. The following stages are Kuşadası-Bodrum, Bodrum-Marmaris, Marmaris-Fethiye, Fethiye-Finike, Finike-Antalya and the tour will finish with the Antalya-Alanya stage next Sunday.
All the stages will be broadcasted live on TRT-1.
Despite having a long history, the tour was virtually recreated last year, and took important steps to become a high-profile event on the cycling calendar, inviting prominent cyclists and teams to the tour.
One of them, last year’s winner David Garcia of the Xacobeo Galicia team is happy to return to Turkey for the tour.
"I have good memories of Turkey and of the Tour of Turkey," said the Spaniard on the tour’s Web site. "For me it was a very enjoyable experience. I have never been in Turkey before and found out a country very interesting, with very beautiful landscape and very nice from the touristic and cultural point of view, although in competition gives you little time to see."Â
Well organized
Garcia praised the organization as well. "About the sporty aspect, I found a very well organized turn and above all, a team that put much effort into doing the right things and make the Tour of Turkey a great race," he said.
The tour starts with the Istanbul leg on Sunday, before the teams will be transferred to İzmir for the second stage. The following stages are Kuşadası-Bodrum, Bodrum-Marmaris, Marmaris-Fethiye, Fethiye-Finike, Finike-Antalya and the tour will finish with the Antalya-Alanya stage next Sunday.
All the stages will be broadcasted live on TRT-1.