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The 61st Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye (TUR 2026) began on Sunday, with Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban starting the first stage in Cesme, located in the Aegean region.
This race is Türkiye's only ProSeries event on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Europe Tour calendar. It started with the Cesme-Selcuk stage, which covers 148.7 kilometers (92.4 miles).
There are 158 cyclists from 23 teams and 27 countries competing along a 1,133.5-kilometer (704.5-mile) route. The tour will end in Ankara on May 3.
Three stages of the race will go through Mugla province, including what organizers believe will be one of the toughest parts of the route.
The Marmaris-Kiran stage, which is 132.7 kilometers (82.4 miles) long and set for April 28, ends with a summit finish at 908 meters (2,979 feet) above sea level.
The narrow, technical roads up to Kiran peak are likely to create the first major gaps in the overall standings.
Two additional stages, Aydin-Marmaris and Marmaris-Fethiye, will also be held in the province.
Mugla Governor Idris Akbiyik said the tour will bring global attention to the region. "Bisiklet turu sayesinde antik kentlerimiz, masmavi koylarımız ve ormanlarımız ekranlar aracılığıyla tüm dünyaya tanıtılacak," he said.
This means the race will introduce the province's ancient cities, coastlines, and forests to audiences worldwide through broadcast coverage.
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