VISA MAXIMILES BLACK L’ÉTAPE TÜRKİYE BY TOUR DE FRANCE THRILLS ISTANBUL
From Asia to Europe — The Race That Unites Continents
The amateur cycling race series of the Tour de France, L’Étape Türkiye, brought together more than two thousand athletes in the heart of Istanbul for its second edition. Starting in Beykoz, the race offered unforgettable moments against the magnificent backdrop of the Bosphorus.
Under the title sponsorship of Visa and Maximiles Black, the credit card brand of Türkiye İş Bankası, L’Étape Türkiye by Tour de France brought together thousands of cyclists on Sunday, October 12, in the heart of Istanbul, where 2,015 athletes took the start. In its second year in Türkiye, the event once again painted Istanbul yellow with the spirit of the Tour de France.
In the men’s long course, Gökhan Uzuntaş claimed victory with a time of 02:56:58, while Gökçe Demirsoy triumphed in the women’s long course with 03:14:34. On the short course, Murat Uslu (01:23:21) and Sevcan Alper Özcan (01:35:25) were crowned the day’s champions.
Starting from the Beykoz Sports Forest in the early morning, participants experienced both the competitive spirit of cycling and Istanbul’s breathtaking harmony with nature. Stretching from the blue waters of the Bosphorus to the Black Sea coast, the 105 km long course and 52 km short course offered riders the legendary energy of the Tour de France once again.
Istanbul’s unique geography, connecting two continents, made the Visa Maximiles Black L’Étape Türkiye by Tour de France truly one of a kind. As the only cycling race spanning Asia to Europe, from the Marmara to the Black Sea, it delivered an unparalleled experience.
After starting in Beykoz, riders crossed the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, symbolically connecting continents with their pedals. The route, passing through Polonezköy, Riva, Kılıçlı, and Paşamandıra, blended endurance with stunning nature, history, and cityscapes.
Thrilling Moments on the Course
Thousands of cyclists carried the legendary energy of the Tour de France onto Istanbul’s roads. One of the race’s most iconic segments was the Škoda Sprint Gate on the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, where riders raced against the wind between two continents.
The Asperox Climb Gate near Polonezköy was the toughest and most exciting part of the course, where athletes demonstrated endurance and determination worthy of the Tour de France spirit.
The yellow jersey (general classification leader) went to Gökhan Uzuntaş, the green jersey (best sprinter) to Şevket Özer, and the polka-dot jersey (best climber) to Anton Hrabovskyi.
In the women’s category, Gökçe Demirsoy won both the yellow and green jerseys, while Şeniz Pamuk claimed the polka-dot jersey.
The young riders’ white jerseys were awarded to Ayşe Gürer and Berat Aslan.
Top 3 Results
Long Course – Women
Gökçe Demirsoy – ADK Racing Team – 03:14:34
Vicky Walsaw – 29inch Academy – 03:14:45
Aylin Yüce – Büyükçekmece Cycling Club – 03:23:04
Long Course – Men
Gökhan Uzuntaş – Mudanya Belediyespor – 02:56:58
Anton Hrabovskyi – Asperox BikePedia Racing Team – 02:57:11
Turgay Germen – Independent – 02:57:38
Short Course – Women
Sevcan Alper Özcan – Asperox BikePedia Racing Team – 01:35:25
Buket Demirci – BAU Cycling – 01:39:02
Olena Maksymenko – Independent – 01:42:05
Short Course – Men
Murat Uslu – Büyükçekmece Cycling Club – 01:23:21
Kamer Kanber – Boyraz Cycling Academy – 01:23:21
Tuğrul Atakan Demirtaş – Büyükçekmece Cycling Club – 01:23:23
Strong Institutional and Brand Support
With the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Istanbul Governorship, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Beykoz Municipality, Turkish Cycling Federation, General Directorate of Highways, and the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), the event was organized by 78 Event, under the title sponsorship of Visa and Türkiye İş Bankası’s Maximiles Black.
Inspired by the iconic yellow-and-black colors of the Tour de France, the event became a meeting point for brands, institutions, and sports enthusiasts. Partners included Škoda, Asperox, CarrefourSA, SPX, Mosso, Züber, and Rova Teknoloji. The Consulate General of France in Istanbul once again joined as a partner, while Mardin continued its role as a cultural collaborator by designing the special trophies for the winners. These strong institutional and brand partnerships have made L’Étape Türkiye one of the most prominent stages in the global calendar.
Ülkü Yüksel, Visa Türkiye Head of Marketing, stated:
“Last year, Türkiye became the 20th country to join the 122-year legacy of the Tour de France. Bringing this tradition to our country alongside our partner İş Bankası’s Maximiles Black brand is a great honor.
The Turkish stage winner earned the iconic Yellow Jersey and the right to participate in the Tour de France in Paris—an immense pride for us all.”
Zafer Başar, General Manager of Yüce Auto–Škoda, added:
“Škoda’s history began 130 years ago with a bicycle factory founded by Laurin and Klement. Today, as a long-term partner of the Tour de France, we continue to support cycling globally.
Being part of such a prestigious event as L’Étape Türkiye is a true honor, reflecting our commitment to advancing cycling culture and sports tourism in Türkiye.”
Cycling Festival in Beykoz
This year, L’Étape Türkiye was not just a race but a two-day cycling festival. The EXPO area in Beykoz Sports Forest was packed with athletes, families, and visitors enjoying brand experience stands, music, and stage activities throughout the weekend.
Last year’s yellow jersey winners were Şeniz Pamuk and Anton Hrabovskyi, while Cengiz Güner became the fastest on the bridge sprint gate by just 37 seconds — moments that marked the unforgettable beginning of L’Étape Türkiye’s journey in Türkiye.
