Young Star Shines at Tour of Türkiye Opening Stage

Tom Crabbe won the first stage of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye, finishing strong in the 148.7 km Çeşme–Selçuk route in Izmir.

The 20-year-old Belgian rider impressed in his first race in Türkiye, completing the stage in just over three hours. He said he expected tough conditions, especially the heat, which contrasts with the cooler weather back home in Belgium. Still, he trusted his instincts and sprinted to victory in the final meters.

Crabbe also shared that he had trained specifically for moments like this—finding the right gap at the finish—and was pleased to see that effort pay off. His earlier wins this season helped build confidence, and he now aims to continue performing strongly throughout the week.

Fellow Belgian Simon Dehairs finished second, while Italy’s Davide Persico took third place. Turkey’s Ramazan Yilmaz placed fourth, marking one of the best recent results for a Turkish rider in the race.

With this win, Crabbe earned both the turquoise jersey (overall leader) and the green jersey (best sprinter). Meanwhile, Michal Pomorski will wear the red (best climber) and white jerseys in the next stage.

The race continues with the Aydın–Marmaris stage, taking riders along scenic coastal routes. As part of the Union Cycliste Internationale Europe Tour, this event brings together 161 cyclists from 27 countries, covering over 1,100 km across Türkiye’s Mediterranean and Aegean regions.

Source: Newstimehub