Izmir: Harold Martin Lopez, who clinched victory in stage 6 of the Tour of Trkiye on Friday, expressed his intention to return to the country to immerse himself in the local culture. Despite the demanding nature of the eight-day race, Lopez is eager to experience Trkiye’s culinary offerings and cultural richness at a more leisurely pace.
According to Anadolu Agency, Lopez shared his commitment to revisiting Trkiye for a holiday later this season. The Ecuadorian cyclist, who previously participated in the race, fondly recalled his journey last year when he finished fifth in the general classification. This year, he improved his standing to second place overall.
Lopez, 24, expressed his ambition to win the race next season while relishing his current achievement. “This is my second professional win, and I’m really happy about it,” he stated. He recounted his strategy during the race, noting his aggressive approach before and during the final climb. “First, I took a boat and after I took full gas,” he remarked.
He also commented on the challenging weather conditions, emphasizing the difficulties posed by thunderstorms and slippery roads, particularly around corners. “This is cycling, it’s not as easy as a sport, so we need to be careful. It’s a very, very good race,” Lopez added.
The Tour of Trkiye began in Antalya and spans 1,153 kilometers (716 miles) over eight stages. Cyclists traverse popular tourism destinations such as Kemer, Kalkan, Fethiye, Marmaris, Akyaka, Aydin, Kusadasi, Selcuk, and Cesme before finishing in Izmir on May 4. The Turkish Cycling Federation, which has organized the event since 1963, elevated it to international status in 1965, and it became a presidentially governed race in 1966, marking its prestige in the region.