THE 56TH PRESIDENTIAL CYCLING TOUR OF TURKEY TO BE INAUGURATED ON SUNDAY

25 TEAMS AND 175 RIDERS JOIN THE EVENT THIS YEAR 

THE RACE TO TAKE PLACE ON A TRACK OF 1.344 KM IN TOTAL KICKS OFF ON SUNDAY IN NEVŞEHİR -CAPPADOCIA LEG 

THE LEGS OF THE RACE RESPECTIVELY INCLUDE KONYA- KONYA, BEYŞEHİR - ALANYA, ALANYA - KEMER, KEMER - ELMALI (GÖĞÜBELİ CLIMB SPRINT), FETHİYE - MARMARİS, MARMARİS - TURGUTREİS, BODRUM-KUŞADASI

EROL KUCUKBAKIRCI, HEAD OF CYCLING FEDERATION, SAID, “3 BILLION WILL WATCH THE RACE”

NEVSEHIR MAYOR INCI SEZER BECEL SAID, “THIS CITY DESERVES IT ALL” 

PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, MAKING A SPEECH IN THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION, THE ONLY RACE ORGANIZED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF A STATE PRESIDENT, SAID “WE GIVE ALL KINDS OF SUPPORT TO PROMOTE SPORTS. I WISH SUCCESS TO ALL RIDERS JOINING THE RACE THAT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED FOR 56 YEARS.”

Preparations are ready for the 56th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey. The race to kick off in the Nevşehir-Cappadoccia leg on Sunday will be finalized with the finishing split in Kusadasi on the 18th of April. The race, witnessing the participation of 25 teams and 175 riders, will take place on a track of 1.344 km in total.

The press release of the race was held in Nevsehir Crowne Plaza with the participation of local and foreign press members and a large number of guests.

THE MAYOR BECEL SAID, “WE ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY” 

Making a speech in the press release, Nevsehir Mayor said, “Nevsehir which is located at the center of Anatolia is an important touristic center with its gorgeous nature and underground cities.  Our city hosts various organizations throughout the year. Back in 2016, we had already hosted a tour here. We took all types of precautions for this Tour and 1500 employees will work for the event. We are extremely happy to organize such a nice organization in Nevsehir which was announced to be the European Sports City in 2021. I thank a lot to all those who contributed to the organization of this tour in our city.” 

KÜÇÜKBAKIRCI SAID, ”3 BILLION PEOPLE WILL WATCH THE TOUR”

Erol Kucukbakirci, President of Turkish Cycling Federation, mentioned the significance of the organization and gave important messages. “I am very content to having participated in this tour years ago. The organization which takes place for the 56th time will witness a tug of war in one of the strongest sports communities. 3 billion people will have the chance to follow this big race. This also signifies a great tourism propaganda, for sure. I owe my thanks to everyone who contributed to it. Eurosport and TRT 8 will broadcast throughout the day to the entire world.”

HOFFER SAID, “HELLO TURKEY”

Roland Hoffer, UCI (World Cycling Union) race director, revealed that he was content to, once more, visit Turkey. He made a speech some parts of which were in Turkish. “I think and I believe that a wonderful race and legs await us again. Believe me, I am really very content to be here. It is not easy to host so many teams and riders in these pandemic times,” he briefly said, adding “I wish success to everyone” in Turkish.

“SPORT IS A UNIVERSAL ACTIVITY,” PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN SAID 

The President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave important messages in his speech on this great organization. “Sport is a universal activity which unites people, brings together different cultures and promotes solidarity and fusion alongside with competition. As a person who has been devoted to sport since my early youth, I have made great efforts to urge all my citizens, young and old alike, to engage in a sport’s branch. I warmly welcome all riders, teams and chiefs of delegation joining this significant sports event realized under our auspices and I wish them all success,” he said.

MINISTER KASAPOĞLU SAID, “WORLD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS ORGANIZATION” 

Dr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasaoglu, the Minister of Youth and Sports, underlined that the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey was the most prestigious organization of the world. “We, as Turkey, have become a sought-after country for all world-wide sports organizations thanks to events and projects realized as a result of infrastructure and facility investments we have made in 19 years. We are taking a significant step to pursue this ambition also in cycling. Each year we include different legs to the stage so as to bring depth to our cycling tour with the purpose of granting access to a growing number of people and presenting heavenly corners of our country to world public. This year will witness the strongest organization of 55 years in terms of the joining teams and overall participation,” he said.

MINISTER KASAPOĞLU SAID, “WORLD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS ORGANIZATION” 

Dr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasaoglu, the Minister of Youth and Sports, underlined that the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey was the most prestigious organization of the world. “We, as Turkey, have become a sought-after country for all world-wide sports organizations thanks to events and projects realized as a result of infrastructure and facility investments we have made in 19 years. We are taking a significant step to pursue this ambition also in cycling. Each year we include different legs to the stage so as to bring depth to our cycling tour with the purpose of granting access to a growing number of people and presenting heavenly corners of our country to world public. This year will witness the strongest organization of 55 years in terms of the joining teams and overall participation,” he said.

Alphan listed the legs of the tour as follows:
11 April (at 10 am) Nevşehir-Cappadocia 167.3 km
12 April (at 11.15 am) Konya-Konya 144.9 km
13 April (at 09.25 am) Beyşehir-Alanya 212.6 km
14 April (at 10.20 am) Alanya-Kemer 184.4 km
15 April (at 10.10 am) Kemer-Elmalı (Göğübeli climb) 160.3 km
16 April (at 11.30 am) Fethiye-Marmaris 129.1 km
17 April (at 10.10 am) Marmaris-Turgutreis  180 km
18 April (at 10.45 am) Bodrum-Kuşadası 160.3 km 

COVID 19 PRECAUTIONS 

On the other hand, CEO Event responsible for the organization of the Tour took a series of Covid-10 measures with Turkey Cycling Federation and the Ministry of Health. Accordingly, chiefs of delegations, directors, riders and other officials joining the tour to travel for 8 days will be tested once in three days.

175 RIDERS FROM 25 TEAMS WILL CYCLE IN THE TOUR

Below is a list of teams to compete in the tour;

•  ASTANA-PREMIER TECH                                     (Kazakhstan) 
• DECEUNINCK-QUICK-STEP                                 (Belgium)
• SRAEL START-UP NATION                                   (Israel)

• ALPECIN-FENIX                                                        (Belgium)
• ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI – SIDEMERC                     (Italy)
• B&B HOTELS P/B KTM                                             (France)
• BARDIANI CSF FAIZANE’                                         (Italy)
• BINGOAL WB                                                            (Belgium)
• BURGOS-BH                                                             (Spain)
• CAJA RURAL – SEGUROS RGA                              (Spain)
• DELKO                                                                      (France)
• EOLO – KOMETA CYCLING TEAM                         (Italy)
• EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI                                          (Spain)
• GAZPROM -RUSVELO                                             (Russia)
• RALLY CYCLING                                                      (USA)
• TEAM NOVO NORDISK                                           (USA)
• UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM                                  (Norway)
• VINI ZABU’ BRADO KTM                                         (Italy)

• A BOLC CT                                                               (Holland)
• BEMADUZ MİNSK                                                   (Belarus)
• NIPPO-PROVENCE-PTS                                        (Switzerland)
• SALCANO SAKARYA BB TEAM                              (Turkey)
• SPOR TOTO CYCLING TEAM                                (Turkey)
• TEAM SAPURA CYCLING                                      (Malesia)
• WILDLIFE GENERATION PRO CYCLING              (USA)