After passing Rumeli Hisarı (Rumelia Castle), the cyclists proceeded to Polonezköy and then Riva again via the same bridge. They finally arrived at the pavilion, marking the race’s finishing point. 

Anton Hrabovskyi was the first to complete the “Long” course, finishing in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 5 seconds. In the women’s division, Şeniz Pamuk ranked first with a timing of 3 hours, 26 minutes and 2 seconds.

Among Istanbul’s distinctive attractions, cyclists enjoyed a pleasant rivalry in the “Short” course route as well. Facing challenging terrains in the Beykoz district, cyclists exerted all of their strength to reach the final destination.

«It is a source of pride for the country to host such an important organization,» Ömer Kafkas, the general manager of the competition’s organizer in Türkiye, told state-run Anadolu Agency before the races.

Kafkas stressed that they had a long preparation period for this event of great significance, spanning approximately one and a half years.

«First of all, the fact that Türkiye hosts such an important brand has a great impact on athletes,” he said, emphasizing that the Tour de France is one of the most important sports organizations in the world followed by billions of people.

He highlighted the significance of the race for the promotion of the country in this sense, referring to the fact that the event was broadcast live on numerous channels, providing uninterrupted coverage for 4 to 4.5 hours.

Kafkas further mentioned that over the past 10 years, they have witnessed significant changes in participation in such organizations.

«We’ve witnessed a tremendous increase in the number of participants, reflecting the growing interest and enthusiasm for such organizations. The number of new athletes joining this sport every year is approximately 24 percent.”

The Tour de France is renowned as one of the world’s most prestigious and challenging bicycle races. As one of the three major Grand Tours — alongside the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana — it draws the best cyclists from around the globe.