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The second edition of Visa Maximiles Black L’Étape Türkiye by Tour de France brought over 2,000 amateur cyclists to Istanbul on Sunday, offering a rare chance to experience the thrill of the legendary Tour de France across two continents.
The race began in Beykoz, on the Asian side of the city, and stretched toward the Bosphorus and Black Sea, creating a vivid scene of competition and celebration.
Organized by 78 Event with the support of Türkiye’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Istanbul Municipality, the event was held under the title sponsorship of Visa and Türkiye IsBank’s Maximiles Black card.
Riders competed in two categories—a 105-kilometer-long (65.2-mile) course and a 52-kilometer (32.3 miles) short course—both designed to combine natural beauty with challenging climbs.
Cyclists pedaled from Asia to Europe via the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, a symbolic highlight of the race that allowed them to ride across continents while overlooking the Marmara and Black Seas.
The course then extended through Polonezkoy, Riva, Kilicli, and Pasamandira, blending forest trails and winding descents with historical landscapes.
The Skoda Sprint Gate, positioned on the bridge, became one of the day’s most thrilling moments as riders fought the wind while crossing the Bosphorus.
Another highlight was the Asperox Climb Gate, which tested endurance and determination in the race’s steepest segment.
In the long-course men’s category, Gokhan Uzuntas finished first with a time of 2:56:58, followed by Anton Hrabovskyi and Turgay Germen. Among women, Gokce Demirsoy claimed victory with 3:14:34, ahead of Vicky Walsaw and Aylin Yuce.
On the short course, Murat Uslu led the men’s race with 1:23:21, while Sevcan Alper Ozcan topped the women’s category with 1:35:25.
Uzuntas received the iconic yellow jersey, symbolizing the overall leader, while Sevket Ozer earned the green jersey for the best sprinter. The red polka-dot jersey for the best climber went to Anton Hrabovskyi.
Among women, Gokce Demirsoy took both the yellow and green jerseys, and Seniz Pamuk won the polka-dot jersey. Ayse Gurer and Berat Aslan were recognized as the youngest champions of the event.
Beyond the race itself, the weekend turned Beykoz into a cycling festival. The EXPO area in Beykoz Sports Forest hosted brand booths, music, and family activities, drawing both participants and spectators.
This year, the event once again painted the city in the Tour de France’s signature yellow, reinforcing Istanbul’s growing place on the international cycling map.
The start ceremony was attended by representatives from the Türkiye Cycling Federation, Visa, Türkiye IsBank Skoda, Asperox, Arabica Coffee House, and other partner brands. Also present were Kevin Quiniou, general manager of the L’Étape by Tour de France Series, and Mathieu Clanchin, the series’s project manager.
France’s Consulate General in Istanbul supported the event, while Mardin, acting as a cultural partner, designed the special trophies for the winners.
Visa Türkiye’s Marketing Head Ulku Yuksel said the partnership allowed Türkiye to join “the 122-year-old world of the Tour de France as the 20th country,” adding that the race plays an important role in boosting Türkiye’s visibility in sports tourism.
She emphasized that the yellow jersey winner earned a place at the Tour de France amateur finale in Paris, calling it “a moment of pride for the country.”
Caglar Ilter, Head of Individual Marketing at Türkiye IsBank, underlined that supporting L’Étape Türkiye aligns with their broader mission to encourage a sustainable lifestyle through sport.
He noted that this year, participants also experienced the bank’s “face-payment technology,” a new contactless system that allows transactions without a card or phone.
For Skoda, a long-standing partner of the Tour de France, the event reflects a deep-rooted connection with cycling.
General Manager Zafer Başar remarked that the company’s origins date back 130 years to its founders’ bicycle factory, saying the Istanbul stage “contributes both to the growth of Türkiye’s cycling culture and its sports tourism goals.”
L’Étape Türkiye by Tour de France has quickly become one of the world’s most distinctive stages, linking the passion of global cycling with the natural and historical beauty of Istanbul.
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