Australian cyclist claims 2nd leg of Tour of Turkiye

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Australian cyclist Kaden Groves won the second stage of the 57th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkiye on Monday.

BikeExchange-Jayco team's Groves completed the 158.4km (98.4 miles) ride between Selcuk (Efes) and Alacati ahead of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) and Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe).

On Sunday, Australia's Caleb Ewan won the first stage of the Tour of Turkiye, finishing in four hours, 38 minutes, and five seconds to claim his win.

The eight-stage Tour of Turkiye spans a total distance of 1,303km (810 miles) 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 to the metropolis’ European part again.

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 taken under presidential authority in 1966.

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

Stages:

Bodrum – Kusadasi: 207 kilometers (128 miles)

Selcuk (Ephesus) – Alacati: 158 kilometers (98 miles)

Cesme – Izmir (Karsiyaka): 123 kilometers (76 miles)

Izmir (Konak) – Manisa (Spil): 147 kilometers (91 miles)

Manisa –Ayvalik: 192 kilometers (119 miles)

Edremit (Akcay) – Eceabat (57th Infantry Regiment Memorial): 205 kilometers (127 miles)

Gelibolu – Tekirdag: 135 kilometers (83 miles)

Istanbul – Istanbul: 136 kilometers (84 miles)