46th PRESIDENTIAL CYCLING TOUR OF TURKEY (11-18 APRIL 2010)

Presidential Tour of Turkey Becomes Bigger

Due to the hard work of the organizers and the success of the past two editions, the Presidential Tour of Turkey will feature a better line up than ever from April 11 to 18. Despite the competition with many other races at this time of the year, it will be an important event of the Spring cycling season broadcasted live on Eurosport International for two hours daily.

 

In a period of only three years, race promoters Emin Müftuoglu and Abdurrahaman Acikalin have considerably developed the Presidential Tour of Turkey. They took up the challenge to attract big teams to an unknown event in 2008. Teams managers have since reported positively about the safety for the riders, the beauty of the landscapes, the nice climate, the high standard of accommodation and the propensity of the organisers to listen to their wishes.

Therefore, the 2010 Presidential Tour of Turkey will feature a course that is even more suitable for the preparation of the Ardennes classics and the Giro d’Italia. Rather than a criterium, Istanbul will host a prologue. The 5.8-km individual time trial will be held alongside the bank of the Bosphorus and up to the historical site of Sultanahmet where the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are neighbours.

Following the usual transfer to Kusadasi, the route will follow the coasts of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas to reach Alanya on April 18. Two new mountainous and difficult stages will modify the profile of the overall champion. It augurs an interesting battle between the strongest riders to succeed South Africa’s Daryl Impey who was the winner last year.

Peter Sagan, revelation of Paris-Nice at the age of only 20, will be the hot favourite of a race that also features the recent winner of the Tour of Murcia, Frantisek Rabon of HTC-Columbia. Cofidis will enter the Tour of Turkey for the first time with no less than the king of the mountain of the past two Vuelta a Espana David Moncoutié, Paris-Nice’s last stage winner Amaël Moinard, Rémi Pauriol and Estonian sensation Rein Taaramae. The winner of the 2008 Presidential Tour of Turkey David Garcia Dapena will be back in action while Italian teams will be represented by some of their most interesting up and coming riders such as former national champion Giovanni Visconti, former U23 world champion for time trial Adriano Malori, climbers Filippo Savini and Simon Spilak who hails from Slovenia.

The list of the sprinters lining up in Istanbul is also impressive with Andre Greipel who has already won six races in 2010, Daniele Bennati, Francesco Chicchi, Mattia Gavazzi, Mark Renshaw, Kenny Van Hummel, Luciano Pagliarini, Michele Merlo, Vidal Celis, Francisco Ventoso, Sebasian Siedler, Oscar Gatto and Krzysztof Jezowski.

From April 11 to 18, the Presidential Tour of Turkey is expected to prove himself coming of age.

For more information: http://www.tourofturkey.org/

Stages

Stage 1 – Istanbul Prologue : 11 April 2010, 5.8 km

Stage 2 – Kusadasi – Turgutreis : 12 April 2010, 181.0 km

Stage 3 – Bodrum – Marmaris : 13 April 2010, 166.0 km

Stage 4 – Marmaris – Pamukkale : 14 April 2010, 209.0 km

Stage 5 – Denizli – Fethiye : 15 April 2010, 221.0 km

Stage 6 – Fethiye – Finike : 16 April 2010, 194.0 km

Stage 7 – Finike – Antalya : 17 April 2010, 114.0 km

Stage 8 – Antalya – Alanya : 18 April 2010, 166.0 km

Professional Teams
Footon - Servetto	FOT
Lampre - Farnese Vini	LAM
Liquigas - Doimo	LIQ
Team HTC - Columbia	THR
Pro Continental Teams
Vorarlberg - Corratec	VBG
Scott - Marcondes Cesar - Sao Jose dos Campos	SJC
Xacobeo - Galicia	XAC
Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne	COF
Carmiooro - NGC	CMO
Colnago - CSF Inox	CSF
De Rosa - Stac Plastic	DER
ISD - Neri	ISD
Skil - Shimano	SKS
CCC - Polsat - Polkowice	CCC
National Teams
Turkish National Team	TUR