Sights & cycling: 56th Tour of Turkey gathers world's top riders

The 56th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey started last week in central Turkey's Konya province.

Stage 1. Konya-Konya

What should have been a mountainous opening stage to Urgup in the center of the country was canceled due to heavy snow. But organizers rescheduled it to be raced around the nearby city of Konya on a 72.4-kilometer (45-mile) circuit that suited a mass bunch sprint rather than an elite clique of climbers sharing the spoils.

The urban run was won in 1 hour 35 minutes 38 seconds by Arvid de Kleijn of Rally Cycling.

De Kleijn came from behind to overtake Kristoffer Halvorsen of Norway on the line, while Eduard Grosu of Romania took third.

Stage 2. Konya-Konya

The second stage of the Tour of Turkey was a 144.9-kilometer ride around Konya province.

Veteran British rider Mark Cavendish of Deceuninck-Quick Step won the second stage, ending his three-year dry spell.

Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Fenix finished second, while Andre Greipel of Israel Start-Up Nation came in third.

Stage 3. Beyşehir-Alanya

The third stage was a 212.6-kilometer sprint from Konya's Beyşehir to Mediterranean city of Alanya.

Deceuninck-Quick Step's Cavendish finished first again, tightening his grip on the overall lead.

Cavendish finished the Beyşehir-Alanya ride, the longest of the race, in 5 hours 10 minutes and 30 seconds.

Philipsen was second and Staszek Aniolkowski of Bingoal-Pauwels was third.

Stage 4. Alanya-Kemer

The fourth stage took place between the cities of Alanya and Kemer in southern Turkey's Antalya province.

It was a 184.4-kilometer sprint along Turkey's Mediterranean coast.

Cavendish won his third stage in a row, finishing the race to Kemer in 4 hours 9 minutes and 38 seconds.

Philipsen and Aniolkowski came in second in third again.

Stage 5. Kemer-Elmalı

The fifth stage of the Tour of Turkey was a 160 kilometer (99 mile) mountainous race from Kemer to Elmalı.

Delko's Spanish rider Jose Manuel Diaz won Stage 5 with time of 4 hours, 25 minutes and 25 seconds.

Australian rider Jay Vine of the Alpecin-Fenix team from Belgium finished in second place, while Argentine cyclist Eduardo Sepulveda of Italy's Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec team came in third.

Stage 6. Fethiye-Marmaris

Riders compete in the 129.1-kilometer (80.2-mile) sixth stage of the 56th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, Marmaris, southern Turkey, April 16, 2021.

Winner of the stage Belgium's Jasper Philipsen at the start line, Marmaris, southern Turkey, April 16, 2021.

Winners Belgium's Jasper Philipsen (C), Germany's Andre Greipel (L) and Kristoffer Halvorsen (R) celebrate on the podium, Marmaris, southern Turkey, April 16, 2021.