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 Franceonce 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 event was broadcast live on HT Spor, S Sport, D-Smart, BloombergHT TV, Sports TV, TRT Spor Yıldız, and Tabii Spor 6, with commentary by Caner Eler and Enes Kanbur.
The Start Ceremony
The race was officially started by Seyda Dursun (Deputy Provincial Director of Youth and Sports), Acar Ünlü (Mayor of Marmaris), Burak Karaçam (Deputy Mayor of Beykoz), Sedat Kırt (Deputy Mayor of Marmaris), Emin Müftüoğlu (President of the Turkish Cycling Federation), Ülkü Yüksel (Visa Türkiye Head of Marketing), Çağlar İlter (Head of Individual Marketing, Türkiye İş Bankası), Zafer Başar (General Manager, Yüce Auto–Škoda), Zeynep Kahraman (Marketing Director, Beyaz Kağıt A.Ş.), Mustafa Doğrul (Deputy General Manager, Beyaz Kağıt A.Ş.), Sertaç Yalçın (CEO, Arabica Coffee House), Kürşat Uzun(Board Member, Rova Teknoloji), İlker Ayrık (Brand Ambassador, Asperox), and Ömer Kafkas (General Manager, 78 Event).
Also in attendance were Kevin Quiniou (General Manager of the L’Étape by Tour de France Series) and Mathieu Clanchin (Project Manager of the series).
Award Ceremony
After the grand finish, the top athletes took their places on the podium.
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.
The white jersey awards were presented by Burak Karaçam, the Škoda Sprint Champion Award by Zafer Başar, and the King of the Mountains Award by Zeynep Kahraman and Ragıp Bilgiç (Deputy Manager, Istanbul Municipality Sports Facilities).
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.
Çağlar İlter, Head of Individual Marketing at Türkiye İş Bankası, said:
“We view sports as an essential element of personal and social development, as well as sustainable living. With Maximiles Black and our partner Visa, we are proud to support L’Étape Türkiye by Tour de France for the second year.
During this event, we also introduced our new ‘Face Payment’ technology—allowing purchases without cards, wallets, or phones—marking a first in Türkiye’s banking sector. It was a pleasure to showcase this innovation in such a meaningful organization.”
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.
Unforgettable Memories from Last Year
In 2024, the first-ever Visa Maximiles Black L’Étape Türkiye by Tour de France marked a historic debut between two continents. Starting from Küçüksu Pavilion, riders crossed the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, embracing the intercontinental spirit of the Tour de France.
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.
About the Tour de France
The Tour de France is the world’s most prestigious and demanding cycling race, first held in 1903. It takes place annually in July across France and sometimes neighboring countries, covering over 3,000 km across 21 stages.
The yellow jersey (Maillot Jaune) is awarded to the overall leader, while the green, polka-dot, and white jerseys honor the best sprinter, climber, and young rider, respectively. The Tour attracts billions of viewers worldwide and remains a pinnacle of endurance and sporting excellence.
L’Étape by Tour de France
L’Étape by Tour de France is a road cycling race series designed to offer amateur cycliststhe opportunity to experience what professional riders go through. As an official event of the Tour de France, L’Étape allows participants to race on sections of actual Tour de France routes or similar courses, giving cycling enthusiasts around the world the chance to feel the challenges and atmosphere of the legendary race.
While L’Étape originally took place on one of the Tour de France stages in France, it has gradually become an international event, now organized in various countries across the globe. These races feature demanding climbs, long distances, and intense competition—just like the professional Tour de France stages.
Although the races are open to amateur cyclists, they are taken very seriously and are highly competitive. For some, it’s about racing; for others, it’s about enjoying this unique and unforgettable experience. The international editions allow cyclists outside of France to embrace and celebrate the true spirit of the Tour de France.
In summary, L’Étape by Tour de France is both an adventure and a challenge for cycling enthusiasts, offering the thrill of being part of the world’s most prestigious cycling event. Since its inception in 1993, the series has been held in 22 countries, with Türkiyebecoming the 20th host nation, welcoming the event for the very first time.
Text, Video & Photos Credits: L’Étape Türkiye
