ISTANBUL

Harold Martin Lopez, who won stage 6 of the Tour of Türkiye on Friday, said he could not truly enjoy the food and drinks during the eight-day race but plans to return and experience everything the country has to offer.

Lopez told Anadolu he promised himself he would return for a holiday this season.

The Ecuadorian cyclist said it is his second time in Türkiye; last year he finished fifth in the general classification, and now he is second.

"I hope to win the race next season, but for now, I'm enjoying this moment. This is my second professional win, and I’m really happy about it," he said.

The 24-year-old underlined that he pushed full gas before and during the last climb. "First, I took a boat and after I took full gas," he said.

Lopez highlighted the challenging weather, noting that while there was a lot of thunder, the main concern was navigating slippery roads, especially on the corners.

"This is cycling, it's not as easy as a sport, so we need to be careful. It's a very, very good race," he added.

From Marmara Tour to international prestige

Starting Sunday in Antalya, cyclists have been covering 1,153 kilometers (716 miles) in eight stages, riding through renowned tourism hotspots such as Kemer, Kalkan, Fethiye, Marmaris, Akyaka, Aydin, Kusadasi, Selcuk and Cesme before reaching the finish line in the Aegean city of Izmir on May 4.

The Turkish Cycling Federation has been organizing the tour, known previously as the Marmara Tour, since 1963. It gained international status in 1965 and was brought under presidential authority in 1966, as it became one of the region’s most prestigious races.