THE 56TH PRESIDENTIAL CYCLING TOUR OF TURKEY IS INAUGURATED

ARVID DE KLEIJN, A RIDER FROM RALLY CYCLING TEAM, WON THE FIRST LEG OF THE TOUR ON THE 72.4 KM OF SPOR TOTO KONYA-KONYA TRACK

THE 56TH PRESIDENTIAL CYCLING TOUR OF TURKEY WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW WITH THE SECONG LEG OF THE TOUR ON THE 144.9 KM OF TURKISH AIRLINES KONYA - KONYA TRACK

Following the annulment of Nevsehir-Cappadocia leg due to heavy snowfall and harsh winter conditions, the 56th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey is inaugurated with the kick off of the first leg on Spor Toto Konya-Konya track. Arvid De Kleijn from Rally Cycling team won the first leg of 72.4 km Spor-Toto Konya-Konya track with 1.35.38. Kirstoffer Halvorsen from Uno-X Pro Cycling team and Pierre Barbier from Delko team came through second and third respectively.

WINTER IN CAPPADOCIA, WARM WEATHER IN KONYA

Riders were abruptly transferred from Cappadocia which was under snowfall for two days to Konya where they were welcome with warm weather. 172 riders from 25 teams who approached the start upon signing under the traditional board got ready for the first leg of the tour, Spor-Toto Konya-Konya

FIRT LEG KICKED OFF IN MEVLANA LINE

172 riders begun the real race at the 72.4. km. following 4 km of false start.

2 KM OF CONTROLLED RACE

Cyclists started to test each other with small attacks. Yet these attacks were controlled, so we didn’t witness serious kicks. Leading cyclists kept their eyes behind to check whether they were being followed or not. 

TWO RIDERS JUMPED FORWARD AT 10 KM

172 riders covered 10 km. together. In the meanwhile, two cyclists from Peloton (Main Group) got into an attack. Sean Debie from Bingoal Pauwels Sauches team and Ivar Slik from Abloc CT team attacked.  

GAP OPENED SLOWLY

The two riders had a gap ahead of the peloton first at the 8th, then at the 40th and then at the 55th seconds. Peloton seemed to be determined to pull behind these two riders until the first premium. In the meanwhile, Feritcan Şamlı from Spor-Toto team also started to set the tempo to catch the riders. However, he couldn’t sustain the tempo on the windy track.

COLD AND WINDY WEATHER

Riders competed both with each other and cold and windy weather in the first leg of 72.4 km. Direct wild wind considerably cut their tempo. Winter gear they took on further weighted down on them. 

SEAN DEBBIE PASSED SALCANO SPRINT LINE

The first sprint premium of the leg occurred at 36th km. Sean Debbie, a sprinter, came through Salcano sprint premium, having earned 150 Euro. Ivar Slik ranked second, earning 100 Euro. Vitaly Buts from Salcano Sakarya team came through third to earn 80 euros. 

TIME LAG KEPT CHANGING

The leading two riders passed the sprint line and begun to record fluctuating time lags. Sometimes they recorded over a minute, while at other times they dropped down to 40 or 30 seconds. The two leading riders started to approach the finish line despite these fluctuations. 

IVAR SLIK PASSED THE CLIMB PREMIUM

Cat3 climb premium of the leg started at 53. km. Ivar Slik from Abloc team passed the premium line to have 3 scores, earning the right to wear Red Jersey in tomorrow’s leg to take place under the sponsorship of Turkish Airlines. Sean Debie from Bingoal Pauwels Sauces team came through second to earn 2 scores, while Vitaly Buts from Salcano Sakarya ranked 3rd to earn a point. 

SLIK PASSED ‘THE BEAUTIES OF TURKEY’ PREMIUM OĞUZHAN TİRYAKİ CAME THROUGH THIRD

Ivan Slik once more passed the last premium of the stage. Slik had an advantage in the tug-of-war for the White Jersey called the Beauties of Turkey held under the sponsorship of Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA).  Debie came through 2nd to pass the premium lap, while Oğuzhan Tiryaki from Spor Toto team ranked 3rd. 

GAP WAS BRIDGED WHILE ENTERING THE LAST 10 KM

The gap between the leading two riders and peloton was gradually bridged while riders entered the last 10 km of the stage. Splinters started to gradually secure their positions, while the time lag started to be bridged.

SECOND LEG IN KONYA AGAIN

The second leg of the 56th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey will take place in Konya again.  144.9 km. of Turkish Airlines Konya-Konya led will kick off at 11.15.