European Cycling Union (UEC) Events Coordinator Vladimiros Petsas praised the Tour of Türkiye as almost at the same level as the Tour de France and other major cycling events.
Petsas, who is also the race director of the eight-day race, told Anadolu that there is significant progress every year and that organizers are learning from past experiences and continuously improving.
He stressed the growing passion for cycling in Türkiye. “Even the public seems genuinely excited about it.”
“This is another sign of progress, because each year I see more and more ordinary people, not just sports fans, getting involved, and that growth is truly remarkable,” he said.
Wishing the teams the best of success, he said safety is a priority for the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) events.
“I’m sure that all preparations are going well. And I’m confident that we’ll have a new successful tour,” he added.
He also thanked Emin Muftuoglu, head of the Turkish Cycling Federation, for inviting him again this year.
“I’m happy because I will be working with my friends from Türkiye again,” said Petsas.
Tour of Türkiye
As the only race in Türkiye categorized as a ProSeries event on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Europe Tour calendar, the Tour of Türkiye features a course that includes some of the country’s beautiful Mediterranean and Aegean coastal towns, such as Izmir, Aydin, Mugla, and Antalya.
Starting in Cesme, Izmir, and ending in the Turkish capital of Ankara on May 3, by the end of the race, 161 cyclists from 27 countries will have traveled 1,133 kilometers (704 miles) along the Turkish Riviera.
The eight-day tour, the only “intercontinental bicycle tour” in the world, will host 23 teams, including three world tour teams, 14 professional teams, and six continental teams.
“TUR 2026” will be broadcast live internationally on Eurosport and domestically on TRT Spor, showcasing Türkiye’s beauty and cycling culture to a global audience.