By Fatih Erel
ISTANBUL (AA) – The fifth stage of the 54th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey started in the Selcuk district of the western Izmir province on Saturday.
The fifth stage started in Selcuk and will end in Manisa for a 135.7-kilometer (84.3-mile) race.
The sixth and last stage of the Tour of Turkey will be held between Bursa and Istanbul on Sunday.
For the second time, Tour of Turkey is part of the World Tour category.
This year's edition finds 20 teams from across the world, including the Turkish national team, race in the 950-kilometer (590.3-mile), six-stage tour.
After its promotion to the World Tour category, the Tour of Turkey is expected to reach a large audience through broadcasts in more than 120 countries.
Organized by the Turkish Cycling Federation, the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey debuted in 1963 and became an international race two years later.
In the world's only cycling tour on two continents, riders will go through in the Eurasia tunnel beneath the Bosphorus Strait.
Some 140 cyclists, 20 teams, including nine “World Tour “, are racing in the Tour of Turkey.
This year, the six-day tour started in Konya on Oct. 9 and will end in Istanbul on Oct. 14.
Stages:
Stage 1: Konya – Konya / Oct. 9 // 148.4 km
Stage 2: Alanya – Antalya / Oct. 10 // 149.6 km
Stage 3: Fethiye – Marmaris / Oct. 11 // 132.7 km
Stage 4: Marmaris – Selcuk / Oct. 12 // 205.5 km
Stage 5: Selcuk – Manisa / Oct. 13 // 135.7 km
Stage 6: Bursa – Istanbul / Oct. 14 // 164 km
Teams:
Turkish National Team
Astana Pro Team
Bahrain – Merida
Bmc Racing Team
Bora – Hansgrohe
Burgos – BH
Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
Delko Marseille Provence KTM
Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
Gazprom – Rusvelo
Manzana Postobon Team
Quick – Step Floors
Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
Team Katusha Alpecin
Team Sunweb
Trek – Segafredo
UAE Team Emirates
WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic
Wilier Triestina – Selle Italia
