Right on schedule, at just after 2pm on Friday 17th April, the circus that is the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey came to a warm and sunny Kalkan.  Today was Stage 6 of the race, with a gruelling but scenic 194 km ride from Fethiye to Finike. 

Last year we saw the riders up close as they started a stage in Kalkan, however this year we saw just a fleeting glimpse of the riders as they sped down the new road, towards the main D400 junction, and then past the Jandarma station, brushing past Kışla and on towards Kaş.

A crowd of several hundred Kalkan residents and tourists lined the route, with probably the largest congregation by the new junction close to the petrol station.  The new Mayor of Kalkan, Saim Karakurt was there to oversee the rapturous, if transient welcome.  Scores of schoolchildren had time off school to stand by the roadside and wave their flags and cheer as the cyclists sped by.

The Kalkan Restauranteurs Association were out in force and had their champagne at the ready to spray the competitors as they went by.  Champagne on the winner's podium is one thing, but champagne in your eyes at 60 to 70 kph is probably less desirable.  It's not that great on your camera lens either!

The Italian, Mauro Finetto (CSF team), bagged his second stage win of the tour as he crossed the line at Finike in a sprint finish to beat the Czech, Danilo Hondo (PSK Whirlpool team), who mistakenly thought he had got the win.  The Spaniard, Milan Jimenez Diago was third.  The race leader, David Loosli crashed out of the race some 25km from Finike.

The tour continues on Saturday 18th April from Finike to Antalya, and ends on Sunday 19th April in Alanya.

 See the official website for more details.