All eyes were, of course, on Matevz Govekar from Bahrain Victorious Team, who won the General Classification. Considering the time difference, Govekar did not seem to have a huge advantage. Moreover, he was not a climbing athlete. It looked like the stage would end with the superiority of the climbers. As a matter of fact, it happened.
AN ESCAPE GROUP WAS IMMEDIATELY FORMED
Immediately after the start, 2 cyclists started pedaling ahead with a difference of 9 seconds, with the participation of 11 athletes in an escape group of 12 people. The Phaselis tunnel was passed in this way. The light wind blowing from behind the peloton at the tunnel exit created a situation in their favor. However, this escape did not last long. Each time, the peloton increased the pace and caught up with the escape groups.
THE MOST SERIOUS ESCAPE GROUP HAS BECOME FORMED
After minor escapes, on the outskirts of Olympos, among them Cyrus Monk from the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, Simone Oliviera from the Corratec Vini Fantini Team, Axel Huens from the TDT-Ünibel'e Team, Maximilian Stedman from the Beykoz Municipality Sports Team and Lukas Meiler from the Vorarlberg Team, first 45, then 1 minute 15. He took the lead by seconds, gained momentum, and then went on the attack and increased the difference to 3 minutes on the Olympos descent. This escape group of five pedaled towards the Belen location, which was the first climbing gate, with an increasing tempo. However, as the bonus gate was approached, the time difference dropped to 1 minute and 15 seconds as the peloton gained pace.
LUKAS MEILER RECEIVED HIS FIRST CLIMBING PRIZE
Stage 48.2. kilometer, the second category first climbing gate was passed. The first athlete to cross the line was Lukas Meiler from Team Vorarlberg. Second place went to Petros Mengis from Beykoz Municipal Sports Team, third place went to Alessandro Monaco from Corratec-Vini Fantini Team, fourth place went to Cyrus Monk from Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, and fifth place went to Axel Huens from TDT-Unibet Team. The average speed of the cyclists was measured as 36 kilometers per hour, and thus the estimated time for the escape group and the peloton to pass the gate was 13.28, which was determined beforehand.
TEMPO HELD THE SUMMIT IN KUMLUCA
The escape group and the peloton made a great pace as they approached the Kumluca location. The speed of the athletes sometimes exceeded 70 kilometers per hour. This increased pace meant that they would arrive at the Sprint Bonus point at the 70.4th kilometer ahead of time. As a result of the increased tempo, the difference between the escape group and the peloton increased to over 2 minutes again.
TIMOTHY DUPONT HAS QUIT THE RACE
Among the most important notes of the stage was the retirement of the first day's stage winner, Tarteletto-Isorex Team's Timothy Dupont. The Belgian athlete, who was expelled by the UCI referee committee, did not make any statement. However, it was revealed that some foreign athletes in the race shouted "Out of Race" three times for Dupont.
SPRINT GATE RESULTS
At 70.4 kilometers, the premium gate sponsored by Diana Travel was passed. Here are the results:
1- Axel Huens (TDT-Unibet)
2-Cyrus Monk (Q36.5 Pro Cycling)
3- Lukas Meiler (Vorarlberg)
EVERY INCREASING ESCAPE GROUPS
The average speed of the 2-hour race reached up to 39 kilometers per hour. A new fight has begun for the Beyond Antalya premium gate, which will take place at the 99th kilometer. The new escape group, consisting of Alessandro Monaco and Cyrus Monk from the Corratec-Vini Fantini Team and Axel Huens from the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, increased the time difference between them and the peloton to over 2 minutes. Another group of two athletes formed behind them. Thus, while it was observed that the competition had reached its highest level, the idea of tiring the sprinters until the climb began to dominate.
3 GROUPS FOLLOW EACH OTHER
Because the slopes would be fresher for the climb that would start at the 106th kilometer. The final situation occurred as follows. The time difference between the escape group and the peloton is 2 minutes 8 seconds, and the time difference between the pursuit group and the peloton is 1 minute 38 seconds.
BEYOND ANTALYA PREMIUM DOOR HAS ALSO BEEN PASSED
At the 99th kilometer, the Beyond Antalya premium gate, sponsored by Fraport TAV Antalya, was passed. The results were as follows.
1- Axel Huens (TDT-Unibet)
2- Cyrus Monk (Q36.5 Pro Cyling)
3- Lukas Meiler (Vorarlberg)
After passing the gate, the 3 athletes started pedaling towards the climb at the 106th kilometer, which is the last bonus gate. After passing this last gate, cyclists will now start the Tahtalı climb.
THE BONUS GATE FOR THE LAST CLIMB BEFORE THE FINISH IS ALSO GONE BEHIND
Stage 106.1. The second category climbing bonus gate was also passed. The top 3 athletes were determined as follows.
1- Cyrus Monk (Q36.5 Pro Cycling)
2- Alessandro Monaco (Corratec-Vini Fantini)
3-Axel Huens (TDT-Unibet)
4- Natnael Berhane (Beykoz Belediye Spor)
5- Marco Maestri (Polti Kometa)
PELOTON INCREASED ITS SPEED IN THE EARLY
After passing the gate, the time difference started to decrease. The new time difference was given as 1 minute and 5 seconds. Athletes started to continue the climb, which will last approximately 7.5 kilometers. From now on, white and black will be clear here. Meanwhile, we witnessed the peloton getting faster and the group getting longer. Alessandro Monaco from Corratec-Vini Fantini Team could not stand the high tempo and fell behind. The race continued under the leadership of Cyrus Monk and Axel Huens. However, the time difference decreased to 30 seconds.
STUNNING FINISH
The climb started with 30 cyclists taking the lead. Many athletes fall behind right from the start. All eyes turned to Natnael Berhane from Beykoz Belediyespor team. The athlete, who is a good climber, started to come towards the finish. Polti Kometa Team took the lead with its attack. However, his teammate Davide Piganzoli won the stage with a great attack. Piganzoli will wear the Magenta colored jersey in tomorrow's stage and will most likely make his name as the general classification champion of the Tour of Antalya 2024.
TOUR OF ANTALYA END TOMORROW
Tour of Antalya, organized for the fifth time in its seventh year, will end with the 183.9 kilometer Antalya-Antalya stage to be run tomorrow.
SWIMSUITS FOUND THEIR OWNERS
Davide Piganzoli from the Polti Kometa team won the Magenta Mayo with the AKRA sponsorship given to the leader of the general classification. Kemer District Governor Ahmet Solmaz dressed the 21-year-old Italian athlete in his swimsuit.
Polti Kometa Giovanni Lonardi won the Diana Travel Yellow Jersey, which is given to the best sprinter. The athlete was given his swimsuit by Emin Müftüoğlu, President of the Turkish Cycling Federation.
Natnael Berhane from Beykoz Belediye Spor won the Corendon Airlines Orange Jersey, sponsored by Corendon Airlines, which is given to the best climber. Fikret Hayali, Deputy President of the Turkish Cycling Federation, presented the swimsuit to the athlete.
Axel Huens from TDT-Unibet Team won the Green Jersey sponsored by Fraport TAV Antalya Airport, which is given to the Beyond Antalya class leader. BHM Hotel Management Board Member Ali Ramiz Barut dressed the French athlete in his swimsuit.
