Team soul

We are hosting important names, managers, hundreds of employees of cycling world in the organization of the 46th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey which we gave start with the prologue stage in İstanbul on April 11. While we are witnessing the struggle of popular atheletes of the world from one stage to another everyday, we are beginning to the day with security forces, employees of highways, race course supplies teams who prepares the roads that the convoy will pass and advance groups that are welcoming them by preparing racing areas at finish zones.

We are migrating from one district to another all day long with hundreds of employees, convoy consisting of 120 vehicles, motorized security forces, TV crews consisting of 100 people conveying the Tour to the screens from land and air, 120 local and foreign members of press taking start immediately after athletes. The finish enthusiasm, competition among the athletes, images of Turkey accompanying athletes along the course reflecting to the screens at the end of the day, are buoying up everybody moving with the Tour at roads, racing areas for hours tirelessly and sleeplessly and we are storing energy for the next stage as the team.

After passing the most difficult part of it with transportation of the group consisting of 700 people from İstanbul to Kuşadası by airway in the same evening, the turn was on the journey we will make along Aegean and Mediterrenean coasts up to Alanya in our preperations that began 8 months ago. We crowned our excitement that is increased with the interest of national and international media to İstanbul, Kuşadası-Bodrum, Bodrum-Marmaris stages and positive comments that we got, with contentment of athletes and teams, important cycling authorities regarding the organization with natural wonder Pamukkale and Marmaris-Pamukkale leg added to the Tour this year which is one of the most challenging stages of the Tour with its 209 km length and difficult climbings. With the request of the President’s office for the inclusion of other popular tourism centers of our country to the route of the Tour and effort of Turkish Cycling Federation we moved cycling sport and audiences in front of their televisions to Pamukkale together with the whole convoy.

Notable names of cycling world that we have hosted in the Tour 2010 including President of International Cycling Union, Secretary General of the European Cycling Union, Directors of Tour of Spain and Catalonia expressed the appreciation they felt for witnessing historical, natural and cultural richnesses of our country and stated that it is not possible to remain indifferent to the improvement that Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey has showed since 2008 and that it has already become one of the most favorite tours among European Tours. The fact that 15 athletes racing in Turkey this year are among the best 25 athletes of 2010 until now is exciting commentators narrating the Tour at racing areas and on television as well as audiences closely following cycling sport in front of their televisions. The excitement, interest and participation of audiences who are getting closer to cycling sport year after year with the occassion of the Tour, not only remain in front of televisions but pour out to the roadsides on the route of the race and racers. This interest not only motivates athletes but also us as assigned in the organization. Once more I would like to thank everybody who have contributed to the 46th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey and wish success to all teams and athletes in the journey that will continue up to Alanya.

Aydin Ayhan GUNEY
Organization Director