Izmir: Elia Viviani secured a thrilling victory in stage 7 of the 60th Presidential Cycling Tour of Trkiye, marking his first stage win in the event since 2014. The 36-year-old rider from Team Lotto triumphed in the 144.2-kilometer Selcuk-Cesme route in the Aegean province of Izmir, clocking a time of 3 hours, 22 minutes, and 4 seconds.
According to Anadolu Agency, Viviani expressed the challenges of winning at his age during the post-race press conference. “I was without a team this winter, which was not normal for me. Aged 36, it was not easy. I always said I wanted to do one more year, maybe two if I’m still competitive, and today I showed that I am,” he said. The Italian rider emphasized his special connection to this race and thanked his team and manager, Stephane Heulot, for the opportunity.
Viviani noted that his racing program initially included only one-day races, prompting him to request a stage race to find his rhythm. “They proposed the Presidential Tour of Trkiye, and I have a special feeling a
bout this race. Every time I came, I walked away with a win; it’s fantastic. Back in 2010, my first pro win was here; now it’s the first one of this year, and I hope it’s not the last one,” he remarked.
The final corner of the race saw Andre Greipel’s lead-out train crash, providing an opening for Viviani to attack. He expressed his positive memories of Trkiye, praising the organization, accommodation, and overall experience. “I always enjoy being here. Congratulations to everyone involved in this event,” he added. Viviani finished ahead of Norway’s Alexander Kristoff, who took second place, and fellow Italian Davide Persico, who secured third.
Wout Poels of the XDS Astana Team retained the overall general classification lead with a cumulative time of 21 hours, 21 minutes, and 26 seconds, wearing the prestigious turquoise jersey. The Dutch cyclist had earlier claimed victory in Stage 4, known as the “Queen Stage” for its challenging climbs.
Stage 5 of the tour, scheduled from Marmaris to Aydin, was cancele
d earlier in the week due to adverse weather conditions, prioritizing rider safety. The eight-day race, which began in Antalya on April 27, concludes on Sunday with the final stage from Cesme to Izmir. Cyclists have covered a total distance of 1,153 kilometers, passing through scenic Turkish tourism hubs including Kemer, Kalkan, Fethiye, Marmaris, Akyaka, Aydin, Kusadasi, and Selcuk.