{"id":631294,"date":"2026-04-26T04:02:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T04:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/631294\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T04:02:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T04:02:14","slug":"mediterranean-gem-marmaris-takes-spotlight-in-biggest-turkish-cycling-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/631294\/","title":{"rendered":"Mediterranean gem Marmaris takes spotlight in biggest Turkish cycling tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

Peloton rides along a coastal cliff road during a stage of the Presidential Cycling Tour of T\u00fcrkiye, with the Mediterranean stretching into the horizon. (Photo via Presidential Cycling Tour of T\u00fcrkiye)<\/p>\n

By Newsroom<\/p>\n

\nApril 26, 2026 02:59 AM GMT+03:00\n<\/p>\n

Marmaris is preparing to take on a decisive role in the 61st Presidential Cycling Tour of T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n

The international race begins on April 26, with the coastal district hosting multiple critical stages that could determine the overall winner.<\/p>\n

Held under the auspices of the presidency and supported by the Youth and Sports Ministry, the tour stands as T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s only race in the UCI ProSeries category.<\/p>\n

This year, 161 cyclists from 23 teams and 27 countries will compete across a 1,133.5-kilometer route, placing the country once again on the global cycling calendar.<\/p>\n

Among all host locations, Marmaris has emerged as one of the central hubs of the race, with one finish and two-stage starts scheduled over three consecutive days.<\/p>\n

\"Lev
\n<\/p>\n

\nLev Gonov (M) of the XDS Astana team celebrates winning the Fethiye-Marmaris 3rd stage, with Belgian cyclist Lander Loockx (L) of the Tietema Rockets team finishing second and Dutch rider Tibor Del Grosso (R) of the Alpecin-Deceuninck team taking third place, at the 60th Presidential Cycling Tour of T\u00fcrkiye in Antalya on April 29, 2025. (AA Photo)\n<\/p>\n

Kiran climb set to decide race<\/p>\n

The Marmaris Kiran stage is widely seen as one of the most demanding segments of the tour, with gradients reaching up to 11 percent over a roughly 10-kilometer climb.<\/p>\n

Officials and local organizers expect this section to play a decisive role in shaping the general classification.<\/p>\n

Tolga Gok, head of the Marmaris Cycling Association, described the climb as \u201can epic ascent\u201d that deserves wider international recognition, adding that it ranks among the most technically challenging routes in the race.<\/p>\n

He noted that both the Marmaris Kiran and Antalya stages are likely to determine the eventual champion.<\/p>\n

The route is also expected to deliver extensive visual exposure, with sweeping coastal and mountainous landscapes broadcast to international audiences following the race.<\/p>\n

\"Cyclists
\n<\/p>\n

\nCyclists push through a forested mountain section as the peloton begins to stretch out during a demanding stage of the Presidential Cycling Tour of T\u00fcrkiye. (Photo via Presidential Cycling Tour of T\u00fcrkiye)\n<\/p>\n

Global exposure boosts Marmaris<\/p>\n

Local officials and tourism representatives point to the race\u2019s global media reach as a major advantage for the region.<\/p>\n

Mutlu Ayhan, head of the Marmaris Chamber of Commerce, said the district\u2019s role as both a finish and starting point strengthens its position within international sporting events.<\/p>\n

He emphasized that \u201clive broadcasts and broad media visibility allow Marmaris\u2019 natural beauty and tourism infrastructure to reach millions of viewers worldwide,\u201d adding that the influx of visitors during the event creates economic activity across accommodation, food, and service sectors.<\/p>\n

Tourism stakeholders also see the event as a tool to extend the season and diversify visitor profiles.<\/p>\n

Cengiz Aygun, head of the South Aegean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association, stated that such events contribute not only to the promotion of cycling but also to the international visibility of Marmaris, Mugla, and T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarmaris, with its natural beauty, geographical structure, and tourism potential, is one of the destinations that best fit this kind of organization,\u201d Aygun told Anadolu, stressing the event\u2019s role in strengthening the region\u2019s brand value.<\/p>\n

Key Marmaris stage schedule<\/p>\n

Marmaris will host three consecutive stages that are expected to draw both competitive and logistical focus:<\/p>\n

Stage 2 (April 27) Aydin to Marmaris (152.8 km)Stage 3 (April 28) Marmaris to Kiran (132.7 km)Stage 4 (April 29) Marmaris to Fethiye (130.4 km)<\/p>\n

With its combination of challenging terrain, international participation, and strategic placement within the race calendar, Marmaris is positioned not just as a scenic backdrop but as a decisive arena where the outcome of T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s most prominent cycling event may be settled.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

April 26, 2026 02:59 AM GMT+03:00<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Peloton rides along a coastal cliff road during a stage of the Presidential Cycling Tour of T\u00fcrkiye, with…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":631295,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[569],"tags":[64,63,784,85],"class_list":["post-631294","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-cycling","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/631294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=631294"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/631294\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/631295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=631294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=631294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=631294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}