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The Tour of Antalya 2026, part of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Europe Tour calendar in the 2.2 category, will start this year with a record participation of 29 teams and 174 riders, marking the largest group competing in the race’s history. The four-day road cycling event will take place between March 12 and 15, positioning Antalya once again as a growing hub for international cycling and sports tourism.
Organized under the Turkish Cycling Federation and included in the official UCI calendar, the race combines competitive sport with destination promotion, bringing professional cyclists through some of Antalya’s best-known historical and coastal landscapes.
Now held for the sixth time, the Tour of Antalya has quickly developed into one of Türkiye’s prominent international road cycling events. Competing teams from 14 countries will line up alongside seven Turkish squads, reflecting the race’s expanding global reach within the professional cycling circuit.
The UCI Europe Tour 2.2 classification refers to a professional-level international stage race that allows continental teams, national teams and development squads to compete for ranking points and exposure on the global calendar.
Turkish Cycling Federation Vice President Metin Cengiz described the event as more than a sporting competition, stating that organizers aim to promote cycling culture, encourage infrastructure investment and inspire younger generations through international participation. He emphasized that Antalya’s climate, tourism capacity and training environment have helped turn the city into an increasingly attractive training base for international teams.
All stage starts in the 2026 edition will take place at The Land of Legends, an internationally known tourism and entertainment complex in Antalya, creating a unified start hub across the event.
The race will cover a total of 513 kilometers across four stages:
The third day climb to Saklikent Ski Center will serve as the “Queen Stage,” a cycling term used to describe the most demanding stage of a multi-day race. With a high-altitude ascent, this section is expected to shape the overall classification standings.
Beyond competition, the route has been designed to showcase Antalya’s cultural and natural landmarks to international viewers. Riders will pass locations such as the ancient cities of Perge and Silyon, Doyran Lake, Kaleici’s historic old town and the Konyaalti coastline.
Officials highlighted that these routes overlap with cycling tourism tracks frequently used by amateur and veteran riders visiting the region year-round, reinforcing Antalya’s positioning as a cycling-friendly destination.
Antalya Governor Hulusi Sahin noted that broadcasting the city’s climate advantages and infrastructure through global television coverage would help promote the region internationally and strengthen awareness of bike-friendly tourism facilities.
The race is expected to reach wide audiences through both national and international media distribution. The fourth stage will be broadcast live on TRT Spor, while all start and finish areas will be covered through live transmissions on SportsTV.
In addition, Eurosport will air a dedicated 52-minute program about the Tour of Antalya twice, expanding visibility among European sports audiences.
Seven Turkish teams will compete against international continental and national squads, including teams from the United States, Germany, Belgium, Japan, China, Kazakhstan, Poland, Rwanda and Uzbekistan.
The participating Turkish teams are:
In total, athletes representing 29 countries will take part in the race.
The competition will feature four classification jerseys, each representing a different performance category:
Sponsors linked each jersey to themes ranging from speed and aviation to sustainable tourism promotion.
Through international participation, global broadcasting and a route combining competition with heritage sites, Tour of Antalya 2026 is expected to showcase both elite cycling and Türkiye’s Mediterranean tourism appeal. Over four days, riders will carry the race across landscapes that blend sport, history and coastal scenery for millions of viewers worldwide.
The event is supported by Türkiye’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, local municipalities and regional institutions.
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