The 47th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey 2011

Today, I am interrupting the sequence of my blogs for up-to-the-minute news.

The view of the 47th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey from my apartment.

 

I decided there was a better view from the street.

This morning David remarked that there were no vehicles coming down Bağdat Caddesi. The road was closed. We soon discovered the reason. This was the start of 47th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, the first stage of one of the warm up races before the Tour de France - and it was coming down our street; not just once, but nine times, as we were part of an 11km loop that formed 99km of the race.

Crowds wait at the finish to cheer in the winners.

 Only 300 metres to go!

I went down to the street to catch the action, and then, when they were on their final loop, I carried on down to the sea front to watch the end of the race.

 

At the 200 metre mark, Tyler Farrar was leading

 

Andrea Guardini came through to win.

 

The last contestants race to the finish.

The President of Turkey, Abdullah Gül was there to hand out the various prizes. Andrea Guardini of Italy won this first stage, Tyler Farrar (USA) was second, and Kenny Robert Van Hummel (NI) was third. The end of the race was very exciting, as it looked as if Tyler Farrar was going to win, but Andrea Guardini came out of nowhere and beat him to the tape.

 

The President of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, congratulates the winner

Andrea Guardini is elated

The first three past the post

The green, white and turquoise jerseys are presented

 

The Dignitaries

the President drove home down our street, and past our apartment.