IZMIR 

Elia Viviani secured a thrilling victory in stage 7 of the 60th Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye on Saturday, marking his first stage win in the event since 2014.

The 36-year-old rider from Team Lotto triumphed in the 144.2-kilometer (89-mile) Selcuk–Cesme route in the Aegean province of Izmir, clocking a time of 3 hours, 22 minutes, and 4 seconds.

In the post-race press conference, Viviani said winning a stage at the age of 36 was difficult.

"I was without a team this winter, which was not normal for me. Aged 36, it was not easy. I always said I wanted to do one more year, maybe two if I’m still competitive, and today I showed that I am," he said.

The Italian rider added that he has a very special connection to this race and thanked his team and manager, Stephane Heulot, for giving him the opportunity.

"There were only one-day races on my program, and I told the team I needed a stage race to get into the rhythm.

"They proposed the Presidential Tour of Türkiye, and I have a special feeling about this race. Every time I came, I walked away with a win; it's fantastic. Back in 2010, my first pro win was here; now it's the first one of this year, and I hope it’s not the last one," he said.

Andre Greipel's lead-out train crashed in the final corner, allowing one rider to attack — and he followed.

He said the memories from Türkiye are all positive because the race is well organized, riders are well treated with nice hotels and seaside resorts.

"I always enjoy being here. Congratulations to everyone involved in this event."

He finished ahead of Norway's Alexander Kristoff in second place and fellow Italian Davide Persico in third.

Wout Poels retains overall lead

Viviani’s last stage win in the Tour of Türkiye came exactly 11 years ago, during the Marmaris–Bodrum stage of the 50th edition on May 2, 2014.

Wout Poels of the XDS Astana Team retained the overall general classification (GC) lead with a cumulative time of 21 hours, 21 minutes, and 26 seconds, wearing the prestigious turquoise jersey.

The Dutch cyclist earlier powered to a victory in Stage 4, known as the "Queen Stage" for its challenging climbs.

Meanwhile, Stage 5 of the tour, scheduled from Marmaris to Aydin, was canceled earlier in the week due to adverse weather conditions and heavy rain, prioritizing the safety of the riders.

The eight-day race, which began in Antalya on April 27, concludes on Sunday with the final stage from Cesme to Izmir.

Cyclists have covered a total distance of 1,153 kilometers (716 miles), passing through scenic Turkish tourism hubs including Kemer, Kalkan, Fethiye, Marmaris, Akyaka, Aydin, Kusadasi, and Selcuk.