Stage 3 of Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye sees mountaintop finish

Stage 3 of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye delivered the race’s first summit finish, with a demanding uphill finale to Kıran testing the peloton after an already selective day in the saddle.

The stage unfolded aggressively from the start, with riders eager to position themselves ahead of the decisive final climb. As the race approached the closing kilometers, the pace intensified on the ascent, quickly splitting the field and turning the stage into a true test of climbing strength and endurance.

Team Novo Nordisk remained active throughout the day, with the riders working to stay well-positioned heading into the final climb. As the gradient ramped up in the final 9 kilometers, the front group began to thin out under sustained pressure.

Antonio Polga emerged as the team’s best finisher on the stage, crossing the line in 44th place after a determined effort on the climb.

Reflecting on his performance, Polga said:
“I felt good on the bike today, especially on the first long climb. On the final climb, I was with the front group of around 30 to 40 riders until about 7 kilometers to go. After that, the pace went a bit over my limit, and I had to manage the last kilometers with the energy I had left. I suffered, as expected on a finish like this, and couldn’t hold my best power to the line, but overall I’m happy with my performance. I hope to keep this trend going over the next months so I can build confidence for what’s coming.”

The race continues tomorrow from Marmaris to Fethiye over 130.4km.