3rd leg of Tour of Turkiye kicks off with Cesme-Izmir stage

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ANKARA (AA) - Riders took off on Tuesday in the third stage of the 57th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkiye

The cyclists are competing to finish a 123 kilometer (76 miles) ride between the town of Cesme and Izmir city in southwestern Turkiye.

Australian cyclist Kaden Groves is currently the overall leader in the tour.

The eight-stage Tour of Turkiye spans a total distance of 1,303 km and will culminate in Istanbul on April 17.

The racers will change continents at three different points -- from Asia to Europe on the sixth day, returning to Istanbul's Asian side in the later stages, and then crossing back to the metropolis' European part.

Six WorldTour teams are in the hunt for the title this year, up from three in the previous edition, along with 12 professional and seven continental teams.

The Turkish Cycling Federation has been organizing the tour, earlier known as the Marmara Tour, since 1963.

It gained international status in 1965 and was brought under presidential authority in 1966.

The race is being broadcast live on TRT Spor Yildiz and Eurosport, while Anadolu Agency is among the global event's sponsors.