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This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
61st Presidency of Türkiye Cycling Tour promotional meeting (AA)
The 61st Presidency of Türkiye Cycling Tour is an international road cycling race planned to take place between 26 April and 3 May 2026, coordinated by the Türkiye Cycling Federation, under the patronage of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye and with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. This event, classified in the “ProSeries” category of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Europe Tour calendar, has been recorded as one of the largest sporting events held within Türkiye’s borders. The 2026 route has been mapped to begin in Çeşme district of İzmir Province, following the coastal strips of the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, then transitioning to the Central Anatolia Region and concluding in the capital city of Ankara.
The overall structure of the event is designed over 8 days and 8 stages, with the total race distance estimated between 1133.5 kilometers and 1201 kilometers according to various technical reports. Based on the prepared participant lists, 23 professional cycling teams representing 27 different countries and a total of 161 athletes have been confirmed to participate.
This race, the oldest in Türkiye’s road cycling discipline, was first established in 1963 through the initiative of federation officials under the name “Marmara Tour.” In 1965, it was adapted to an international format and acquired institutional status beginning in 1966 when it came under the patronage of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye. Throughout its history, the event has been conducted in special formats: in 1973 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Republic, between 1979 and 1982 under the title “Presidency of the State Cycling Tour,” and in 1981 to mark the 100th anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s birth.
The modern technical classification of the event began in 2006 with its inclusion in the UCI calendar at the 2.2 category. It was upgraded to the 2.1 level in 2008 and further elevated to the 2.HC (Hors Catégorie) category in 2010. Between 2017 and 2019, the tour was part of the UCI WorldTour, the highest tier in global cycling. However, due to global pandemic conditions in 2020, the event was canceled. Starting in 2021, it resumed under UCI’s new classification system as a ProSeries (2.Pro) category race. In the 60th edition held in 2025, Dutch cyclist Wout Poels, racing under the XDS Astana team, won the general classification.
The official promotional and press briefing for the 61st Presidency of Türkiye Cycling Tour was held on 9 April 2026 at the Istanbul Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM). Attendees included Hasan Yıldırım, Director General of Presidential Security Affairs; Veli Ozan Çakır, President of the Turkish National Olympic Committee and Director General of Sports Services at the Ministry of Youth and Sports; Ünal Kılıçarslan, Deputy Governor of Istanbul; Abdullah Atakan Atasoy, District Governor of Beyoğlu; Muhittin Özbay, Director of Istanbul Youth and Sports Directorate; Emin Müftüoğlu, President of the Türkiye Cycling Federation; and representatives from relevant sponsor brands.
61st Presidency of Türkiye Cycling Tour promotional meeting (AA)
At the meeting, the 2026 event’s main theme was announced as “From Tradition to the Future,” with the intention of transferring the organization’s 60-year institutional memory to future generations. Strategic objectives communicated to the public by Türkiye Cycling Federation officials include: returning the tour to the highest tier, the UCI WorldTour, in coming years; promoting cycling among youth through projects with Yeşilay to steer them away from addictions; and developing new athletes capable of winning international medals in track, mountain, BMX and road cycling disciplines in line with Türkiye’s vision for the 2032 and 2036 Olympic Games. It was also noted that inter-institutional coordination, modeled after the successful security operations of the 2023 and 2024 editions, will ensure a seamless implementation this year.
The 2026 event route has been designed to cover five provincial centers, more than 20 districts, and approximately 60 settlements. Along the 8-day race course, 16 official sprint points and 9 climbing points have been strategically located, with total elevation gain projected to exceed 15,000 meters. While the physical geography spans the Aegean, Mediterranean and Central Anatolia regions, the decision to once again designate Ankara—previously the finish line five times between 1969 and 1979—as the final destination highlights a key historical and symbolic element of the event. The stage program and distance intervals, as officially announced by the organizing committee and mapping authorities, are as follows:
The opening stage runs from Çeşme to Selçuk/Aydın. According to various institutional documents, the distance of this stage has been reported as 148.7 km, 149 km, 153.1 km and 203.1 km.
Stage 1 (TourOfTürkiye)
This stage begins in the city center of Aydın and ends in Marmaris district of Muğla, with a planned distance between 152.8 km and 158 km.
Stage 2 (TourOfTürkiye)
This stage, scheduled between Marmaris and the settlement of Kıran, is anticipated by technical teams to be the first decisive break in the general classification. The stage length has been recorded as 132.7 km, 133.7 km and 134 km.
Stage 3 (TourOfTürkiye)
Starting in Marmaris and finishing in Fethiye district, this stage has been documented with distances of 130.4 km, 131 km and 131.4 km.
Stage 4 (TourOfTürkiye)
This stage, running from the ancient site of Patara to Kemer, is classified as the longest physical stage of the tour, with recorded distances ranging from 181.2 km to 196.7 km.
Stage 5 (TourOfTürkiye)
Beginning in Antalya and concluding at the summit of Feslikan Plateau at an altitude of 1850 meters, this stage has been designated the “Queen Stage” due to its steep gradients. Its length is estimated between 128.1 km and 131 km.
Stage 6 (TourOfTürkiye)
This is a closed-circuit urban stage held entirely within the boundaries of Antalya Province. The total distance has been measured between 149.5 km, 150 km and 156.1 km.
Stage 7 (TourOfTürkiye)
The closing stage is held in the capital city of Ankara. The route is designed around administrative and historical landmarks including the Presidency Complex, Beştepe and Anıtkabir, with distances planned between 105.1 km, 105.2 km and 108.4 km.
Stage 8 (TourOfTürkiye)
According to race regulations, cyclists are ranked in four distinct sub-classifications, and the leaders of each classification are required to wear distinctive colored jerseys throughout the event.
This jersey symbolizes the overall general classification leader, awarded to the cyclist who completes the entire race in the shortest cumulative time. Its design is inspired by the coastal colors of the Aegean and Mediterranean regions. The sponsorship rights for this jersey belong to Türk Telekom.
Turquoise jersey (TourOfTürkiye)
Awarded to the “Best Sprinter,” the cyclist who accumulates the highest points from sprint points located on flat sections. The jersey, representing sustainability and nature, is sponsored by Spor Toto.
Green jersey (TourOfTürkiye)
Worn by the leader of the “King of the Mountains” classification, awarded to cyclists who achieve the highest points by completing the most challenging climbs and ascents. This jersey is sponsored by Turkish Airlines.
Red jersey (TourOfTürkiye)
This jersey belongs to the leader of the “Türkiye’s Beauties” classification, awarded for points earned at special sprint points located at historical, cultural and natural sites along the route. The sponsorship activities for this jersey are conducted under the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) and GoTürkiye brand.
White jersey (TourOfTürkiye)
Under the regulations of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), participation of 23 professional teams from 11 countries has been approved for the 61st Presidency of Türkiye Cycling Tour. The international participation profile is categorized into three main groups based on the global ranking hierarchy of the teams:
The on-site operations of the event are managed through a massive logistical network involving over 1,000 personnel. The race convoy includes approximately 350 vehicles comprising officials, technical teams, medical staff and police units. Fully equipped mobile medical units have been integrated into the peloton to ensure the health and safety of participants. Security along the 1133.5-kilometer route is ensured through the coordinated deployment of thousands of police and gendarmerie personnel.
For television and digital broadcasting, a specialized production team of 80 members has been assembled, with two helicopters and one broadcast aircraft deployed for aerial coverage. The event’s broadcast network, developed in cooperation with international distributors such as ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation), is designed to reach approximately 700 million households across five continents, in 13 different languages and in 190 countries. Globally, 65 television channels, 28 digital platforms, three international news agencies and nearly 30 airline companies will broadcast event footage on their in-flight entertainment screens. Daily live broadcasts of at least two hours on Eurosport, TRT Spor and TRT Spor Yıldız channels are expected to reach a total broadcast duration of 631 hours. Printed and digital media content is projected to exceed 35,000 articles, generating over five billion views.
Beyond sporting competition, the 61st Presidency of Türkiye Cycling Tour serves as a functional mechanism to promote Türkiye’s potential in cycling tourism to European and global markets. Reports indicate that the European cycling tourism sector has reached a value of 52 billion euros and generates approximately 25 million tourist movements annually. Through the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), 58 certified “Cycling-Friendly Accommodation Facilities” with a total capacity of 41,996 beds and 19,538 rooms across 16 cities in Türkiye, as well as over 200 cycling routes, have been presented to global audiences. Additionally, emphasis has been placed on promoting local routes integrated into the international EuroVelo 8 and EuroVelo 13 cycling networks.
As part of the event’s vision to leave a lasting sporting legacy, the “Cycling Park and Cycling School” project, to be launched under the leadership of the Türkiye Cycling Federation during the Ankara final stage on 3 May 2026, will be officially announced. The primary objective of this project is to embed cycling into the national education system to encourage children and youth, conduct data-driven talent scouting, and integrate professional cyclists into the system through Sports Training Centers (SEM) and Türkiye Olympic Preparation Centers (TOHM) to international standards. These infrastructure initiatives are positioned as the physical foundation of long-term development strategies aimed at Olympic success.
The 61st Presidential Tour of Türkiye is an international road cycling race organized under the coordination of the Turkish Cycling Federation from 26 April to 3 May 2026 under the theme "From Tradition to the Future" and classified as a ProSeries event on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) calendar. The race will start in Çeşme district of İzmir following the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts through Aydın Muğla and Antalya before transitioning to the Central Anatolia Region and concluding in the capital Ankara. Comprising eight stages over a total distance of approximately 1133.5 to 1201 kilometers the race will feature 23 teams and 161 professional cyclists from 27 countries including three WorldTeams at the highest level. During the competition cyclists will compete for the turquoise jersey symbolizing the general classification leader as well as the green jersey for sprint points the red jersey for climbing rankings and the white jersey for special category prizes. The event aims to be broadcast live to approximately 700 million households across 190 countries through an extensive production network. This strategy seeks to promote Türkiyes natural and cultural tourism potential on a global scale and to expand the base of cycling throughout the country to nurture new athletes.
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April 10, 2026
Historical Development and Category Changes
April 10, 2026
2026 Promotional Meeting and Key Objectives
April 10, 2026
Route and Stage Planning
April 10, 2026
Classifications and Symbolic Leader Jerseys
April 10, 2026
International Team Classifications and Participants
April 10, 2026
Operational Logistics and Media Production
April 10, 2026
Integration of Sports Tourism and Infrastructure Projects