The first stage, in which 23 teams and 156 athletes from 14 countries competed, started with the Turkish Cycling Federation President Emin Müftüoğlu waving the checkered flag. The wind, which negatively affects the rides of the cyclists, started to affect the athletes as soon as they started. The extreme wind coming from the front and reaching 50 to 68 kilometers per hour from time to time caused even the pedals to be difficult to turn. With the start, the first kilometers were traveled collectively, while the first sudden attack was just past the 5th kilometer, Westgaard Holter from the Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli team, Giulia Masotto from the Team Corratec team, Bodi Del Grosso from the Abloc CT team, Benjamin Perry from the Wiv Sungod team and Moritz Kretschy from the German National Team. He came from the group he was in, and at the end of this attack, the group made a two-minute break. The 2-minute difference that the group of 5 made against the Peloton, despite the wind, started to decrease as Serik was left behind. Although the pace dropped below 30 kilometers from time to time, when the Peloton increased its tempo at these moments, the difference decreased to 1.30 and the 40th kilometer was left behind. It was observed that the time difference decreased to 1.10.
MASOTTO PASSED THE SPRINT PREMIUM DOOR
The first premium gate of the stage was passed at the 49.9th kilometer. The first athlete to pass the sprint gate was Corratec’s Giulio Masotto. Benjamin Perry from Wiv Sungod won the 2nd place and Moritz Kretschy from the Germany National Team won the 3rd place.
PERRY PASSED THE CLIMBING BONUS GATE
Win Sungod’s Benjamin Perry passed the climbing bonus gate, which took place after the 98th kilometer of the stage. Bodi Del Grosso from Abloc CT took the 2nd place, and Westgaard Holther from the Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli team took the 3rd place.
MARECZKO PASSES CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS GATE
The last premium gate of the stage took place at the 121.5th kilometer. Jakub Marek Mareczko from Alpecin Fenix was the first to pass the climate change awareness gate. Furkan Akçam from Sakarya BB took the 2nd place, and Luc Wirtgen from the Bingol Pauwells Sauces team took the 3rd place.
GORGEOUS FINISH
The attacks continued one after the other as the athletes entered the finish line en masse. It was seen that a bicycle was lifted into the air in the violent collision that occurred as a result of the accident that took place 400 meters away. Matteo Malucelli from Gazprom Rusvelo won the finish with 3 hours 24 minutes 27 seconds in the first stage of Tour Of Antalya powered by Akra.
Meanwhile, the Australian athlete of the Alpecin-Fenix team Jay Vine and the Sakarya BB Pro Team athlete Elchin Asadov, who did not appear on the traditional signature board, were the first cyclists to leave the race. While it was a surprise that Jay Vine, one of the favorite and strong names of the race, was out of the race, it was reported that both athletes were put to the test.
The first three athletes received their awards, Turkish Cycling Federation President Emin Müftüoğlu and Antalya Governor Ersin Yazıcı.
Tour Of Antalya will continue with the 183.3 kilometer Kemer-Antalya stage that will be run tomorrow.