Istanbul to host 'L'Etape Türkiye by Tour de France' cycling race Saturday

By Suha Gur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Istanbul will host on Saturday "L'Etape Türkiye by Tour de France," a special event designed for amateur athletes inspired by the iconic Tour de France.

This prestigious event, being held for the first time in Türkiye, is scheduled to take place on Oct. 19-20.

Omer Kafkas, the general manager of the competition’s organizer in Türkiye, told Anadolu that the event will host a very different demographic structure in our organizations within the scope of these types of organizations.

"We are now preparing to host participants from 50 different countries, bringing together 3,000 athletes for this exciting event," he added.

Kafkas, the general manager of 78 Event, stressed that they have had a long preparation period, spanning approximately 1.5 years.

"The anticipation is high, and we are excited to finally see all our efforts come to fruition as we welcome athletes and participants from around the world. It is also a source of pride for the country to host such an important organization," he added.

Kafkas continued that the Tour de France is one of the most important sports events in the world and a big event followed by billions of people.

"First of all, the fact that Türkiye hosts such an important brand has a great impact on athletes," he said.

Kafkas went on to say that over the past 10 years, the event has seen significant changes in participation in events like this.

"We've witnessed a tremendous increase in the number of participants, reflecting the growing interest and enthusiasm for such organizations. The number of new athletes joining this sport every year is approximately 24 percent," he added.

Kafkas emphasized the importance of race for the promotion of Türkiye, saying: "The event will be broadcast live on numerous channels, providing uninterrupted coverage for 4 to 4.5 hours.”

"This event will reach an audience in 70 countries across 170 channels, showcasing the beauty of Türkiye to the entire world,” he added.

Kafkas said they are preparing for an extraordinary organization that will feature the first-ever crossing between two continents.

"The champion of this sprint stage, which will take place on the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, will be recognized as the first and only champion to achieve this unique feat,” he said.

He added that the race will cover a distance of 109 kilometers (67 miles), passing through many iconic landmarks of Istanbul.

The Tour de France is renowned as one of the world's most prestigious and challenging bicycle races. As one of the three major Grand Tours—alongside the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana – it draws the best cyclists from around the globe.