Marmaris: Wout Poels of XDS Astana emerged victorious in stage 4, known as the “Queen stage,” of the 60th Presidential Cycling Tour of Trkiye. The 37-year-old Dutch cyclist completed the 115.4-kilometer (71-mile) journey from Marmaris to Akyaka (Kiran) in 3 hours, 14 minutes, and 12 seconds.

According to Anadolu Agency, Poels expressed contentment with his win in what is his debut appearance at the Tour of Trkiye. He shared that he had only visited the region for holidays before and remarked on the significance of this race as part of his preparation for the Giro d’Italia, where he aims to secure a stage victory to complement his previous wins at the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana.

Poels now leads the general classification with a time of 14 hours, 26 minutes, and 30 seconds, taking the “turquoise jersey” from Tibor Del Gross of Team Alpecin-Deceuninck. He emphasized the importance of maintaining his lead throughout the remainder of the race while reflecting positively on his first experience in the com
petition.

Poels’ teammate, Harold Martin Lopez, secured second place, while Guillermo Juan Martinez of Team Picnic PostNL finished third. The duo from XDS Astana currently holds the top two positions in the general classification.

Meanwhile, Ahmet Orken from the Spor Toto Cycling Team achieved the red jersey, awarded to the best climber. Cyclists faced difficult weather conditions, including heavy rain that led to several accidents. At the 50th kilometer mark, five cyclists, including Caja Rural’s Daniel Babor, were involved in a crash. The Organizing Committee of the 60th Presidential Trkiye Cycling Tour attributed the accident to a misjudgment in speed and braking on a downhill section.

The medical teams responded swiftly, and the injured athletes were transported to Mugla Training and Research Hospital, where five were discharged after further examination.

The eight-day race continues with the Marmaris-Aydin stage on Thursday. Cyclists began their journey in Antalya, traversing 1,153 kilometers (716 mi
les) in eight stages through notable Turkish tourist destinations before concluding in Izmir on May 4. The tour, initially known as the Marmara Tour, has been organized by the Turkish Cycling Federation since 1963, acquiring international status in 1965 and gaining presidential oversight in 1966, establishing itself as a prestigious race in the region.