AKRA Gran Fondo powered by AG Tohum started from Kemer Olbia Park on Sunday, April 30, 2023. Kemer hosted the big race once again…

The first Gran Fondo of the year, AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya powered by AG Tohum, was full of adrenaline and excitement with its technical and challenging route. The 98-kilometer AKRA route with a climb of 1,300 meters from sea level and a total climb of 2,000 meters provided the Gran Fondo cyclists with a “Queen Stage” experience. Cyclists pedaled for a good cause in the midst of nature, chasing the wind…

The children were the winners of AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya powered by AG Tohum. Cyclists who participated in the race turned their pedals for the children in the earthquake zone. 700 bicycles to be purchased with the registration revenue of the organization and the contributions of the sponsors will be distributed to the earthquake-stricken children in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Anton Hrabovskyi won the overall men’s category and Züleyha Dikbaş won the women’s category in the 98 km AKRA route of AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya Powered By AG Tohum.

Yağız Atıcı won the 49 km AG Tohum route in the overall men’s category, and Sevcan Alper won the women’s category. Serdar Anıl Depe, who raced in the Pro category in the 98 km long course, broke the course record with his time of 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 4 seconds.

The youngest athlete in the race was 16-year-old Turkish cyclist Şeyhmus Akçay, while the oldest was 68-year-old Belgian Johan Huyghe. Johan Huyghe raced in the long course, while Şeyhmus Akçay raced in the short course.

AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya powered by AG Tohum, organized for the first time in 2018 with the support of AG Tohum and AKRA Hotels, and contributing to the development of cycling culture in our country with increasing interest every year, brought together hundreds of cyclists in Kemer, one of the favorite tourism destinations of the Mediterranean, with the sponsorship of AKRA Hotels.

Cyclists from different parts of the world, from Germany to Egypt, Belgium to the UK, and the United States to Ukraine, turned their pedals for the children affected by the earthquake disaster last February. With the slogan “Pedals will turn for Goodness,” the fifth annual event raised funds from registration fees and sponsor contributions to purchase 700 bicycles that will be distributed to earthquake victims’ children in collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya powered by AG Tohum road cycling race, organized according to the regulations of the International Cycling Union-UCI and the Turkish Cycling Federation, brought together 570 amateur cyclists from 13 countries in Antalya for the fifth time. Since its first edition in 2018, the event has hosted thousands of athletes, and it was organized once again by Argeus Travel & Events and Yedi İletişim, with AKRA Hotels as the main sponsor and AG Tohum as the name sponsor, in collaboration with the Antalya Governorship, Kemer District Governorship, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, Konyaaltı Municipality, Kemer Municipality, the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Turkish Cycling Federation, the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, and the Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO). The AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya powered by AG Tohum will be sponsored by Corendon Airlines, Fraport TAV Antalya Airport, Diana Travel, Paloma Hotels, Regnum Carya, Zemzem, Ceysu, Antalya Aquarium, Yaşam Hospitals Group, Salcano, and Shimano, among others, in 2023. TÜROFED (Turkey Hoteliers Federation), AKTOB (Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association), ATAV (Antalya Promotion Foundation), KETOB (Kemer Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association), KETAV (Kemer Regional Promotion Foundation), AGC (Antalya Journalists Association), ARD (Mediterranean Advertisers Association), and TSYD (Turkey Sports Writers Association) also supported the event. Additionally, Toyota Turkey, as the Mobility sponsor of the event, supported the competition with its low carbon footprint Hybrid vehicles last year and again this year to support children and the battle of pedals.

The first Gran Fondo race of the year began for the goodness of pedals

With the flag waved by Kemer District Governor Hüseyin Çam, Kemer Mayor Necati Topaloğlu, Antalya Provincial Director of Youth and Sports Yavuz Gürhan, Turkish Cycling Federation President Emin Müftüoğlu, BHM Hospitality Board Chairman Haydar Barut, AG Tohum Board Chairman Burak Gönen, Yaşam Hospitals Board Chairman Cemal Özkan, Salcano Bicycle Board Member Yusuf Akgül, and Antalya Promotion Foundation (ATAV) President Yeliz Gül Ege, the AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya powered by AG Tohum started in front of Olbia Park in Kemer Cumhuriyet Square and carried the adrenaline to the peak with its challenging courses that offer natural and historical beauties unique to Kemer. “Goodwill Ambassadors,” the cyclists who contributed to buying bicycles for earthquake victim children with registration fees, created colorful scenes at the start.

Cyclists pedal for good in pursuit of the wind amidst natural beauty

Organized in Kemer, one of the most important tourism centers in Antalya, the tourism capital, AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya powered by AG Tohum offered amateur cyclists not only a competition filled with adrenaline and struggle but also a unique scenery with its course.

The race, which was held in two different categories: 98 kilometers and 49 kilometers, took the breath away with its blue and green stage experience, with one side overlooking the iconic sea and forests of Kemer.

AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya powered by AG Tohum, the first Gran Fondo of 2023, was full of adrenaline and excitement with its technical and challenging course. The 98-kilometer AKRA course, with a climb of 1,300 meters from sea level and a total climb of 2,000 meters, provided a “Queen Stage” experience for Gran Fondo cyclists. Cyclists pedaled for good amidst nature, in pursuit of the wind.

The race, in which 570 cyclists from 13 countries competed in 18 different categories according to their age groups, including Youth, Elite, Masters, Paralympic, Tandem and Pro, was fiercely contested.

The distribution of the 570 cyclists who competed in 18 categories from a total of 13 countries, including Germany, the United States, Belgium, Georgia, England, Kazakhstan, Northern Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, the Russian Federation, Slovenia, Tuvalu, and Ukraine, was as follows: 191 cyclists started on the AKRA 98 km course, while 379 cyclists started on the AG Tohum 49 km course. In the Paralympic category of the short course, 5 cyclists competed, while 15 teams from the Eşpedal Association and Gaziantep Belediyespor Club competed in the Tandem category with specially designed bicycles for visually impaired individuals.

The youngest athlete of the race was 16-year-old Şeyhmus Akçay, while the oldest was 68-year-old Johan Huyghe.

Magnificent race, breathtaking scenery, course record

191 cyclists started together from Olbia Park in Kemer at 8:00 am on a beautiful Mediterranean morning with a temperature of 19 degrees. They continued with small attacks until 35 km after point 0. About 120-130 cyclists arrived at the climb together. Zeki Tuna Akın from Trek Rmk Dinamis team took the lead during the climb and opened a gap. Ukrainian cyclist Anton Hrabovskyi, Alperen KIR from FTA Sports Team, and Serdar Anıl Depe, who competed in the Pro category, caught and passed Zeki Tuna Akın. The first to reach the summit were Serdar Anıl Depe and Anton Hrabovskyi. Serdar Anıl Depe, using his MTB skills, used his experience in the descent to become the first to finish and broke the course record in the Pro category. Eight women cyclists who competed in the long course finished in less than four hours. The race was completed safely with precautions taken in sharp turns. The Kuzdere Bridge Canyon on the AKRA course and the unique nature of the Beydağları Mountains made the long course of the AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya powered by AG Tohum the queen stage of the event.

379 cyclists, including paralympic and tandem cyclists, started at 8:30 am on the 49 km AG Tohum course and had a magnificent race experience. The peloton, which was scattered after the start, spread out over 15 km from the first climb. There were splits in two groups on the D-400 highway. They merged in some parts and dispersed in others. It was a very exciting and fierce race. The first three finished individually, followed by a group finish.

Anton Hrabovskyi in the men’s overall classification and Züleyha Dikbaş in the women’s overall classification won the 98 km AKRA course of the AKRA GRAN FONDO Antalya powered by AG Tohum. Yağız Atıcı in the men’s overall classification and Sevcan Alper in the women’s overall classification won the 49 km AG Tohum course. Serdar Anıl Depe, who competed in the Pro category on the 98 km long course, broke the course record with a time of 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 4 seconds.

Kemer, one of the most important regions of sports tourism in recent years with its cycling routes passing through unique nature and beauties, and alternative sports events, hosted the AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya powered by AG Tohum 2023 race, and the pedals turned for a good cause this year.

Enjoyable and fierce competition

Cyclists fiercely competed on two tracks and pedaled through a challenging stage of about 98 kilometers with an elevation gain of approximately 2,000 meters at the AKRA track. Starting at 8:00 am on Sunday, April 30th, the AKRA track continued from Antalya’s touristic towns of Göynük and Beldibi through the route of the ancient city of Phaselis and climbed up to the Taurus Mountains, ending at Olbia Park in Kemer, surrounded by centuries-old pine trees and the D-400 highway.

Cyclists also started at 8:30 am for the AG TOHUM track, competing in a challenging and enjoyable experience on the region’s flawless nature and scenery by climbing 537 meters high from Kemer’s pine-scented roads and winding highland roads.

In the AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya powered by AG Tohum race, cycling enthusiasts competed in the Paralympic and Tandem categories. In the Paralympic category, five cyclists competed, while 15 teams from the Eşpedal Association and Gaziantep Municipality Sports Club raced in the Tandem category with specially produced two-person bicycles for the visually impaired.

The AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya powered by AG Tohum EXPO area, located at Olbia Park in Kemer’s Cumhuriyet Square, also brought together cycling enthusiasts.

The top three in the AKRA Gran Fondo powered by AG Tohum 2023 are as follows:

98 km AKRA Course Overall Men’s Top 3:

1. Anton Hrabovskyi (Ukraine – 2 hours 58 minutes 41 seconds)
2. Zeki Tuna Akın (Trek Rmk Dinamis – 3 hours 03 minutes 20 seconds)
3. Alperen Kır (FTA Sports Team – 3 hours 05 minutes 06 seconds)

98 km AKRA Course Overall Women’s Top 3:

1. Züleyha Dikbaş (Asperox Bike Pedia Racing Team – 3 hours 46 minutes 10 seconds)
2. İpek Öztosun (İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club – 3 hours 47 minutes 25 seconds)
3. Şeniz Pamuk (Cyclingbabed – 3 hours 47 minutes 32 seconds)

98 km AKRA Course Pro Category:

1. Serdar Anıl Depe (Individual – 2 hours 55 minutes 4 seconds)

49 km AG Tohum AG Tohum Course Overall Men’s Top 3:

1. Yağız Atıcı (Asperox Bike Pedia Racing Team – 1 hour 17 minutes 32 seconds)
2. Ege Erhan Verit (Trek Rmk Dinamis – 1 hour 17 minutes 35 seconds)
3. Ediz Ateş (Trek Rmk Dinamis – 1 hour 17 minutes 44 seconds)

49 km AG Tohum AG Tohum Course Overall Women’s Top 3:

1. Sevcan Alper (Asperox Bike Pedia Racing Team – 1 hour 25 minutes 36 seconds)
2. Buse Özlem (ISS Cycling Academy – 1 hour 25 minutes 41 seconds)
3. Aylin Karanfil (Asperox Bike Pedia Racing Team – 1 hour 28 minutes 27 seconds)

About Gran Fondo Races:

Gran Fondo is the name given to long-distance cycling races open to amateur cyclists.

These races, whose name comes from the phrase “Gare di fondo” meaning “distance races,” are organized on the same course but with different distances and difficulty levels, depending on the age and level of the participants. Races with different distances are called “Gran Fondo,” “Mezzo Fondo,” and “Fondo.” “Gran Fondo” is undoubtedly used for the longest course. Wide-ranging “Gran Fondo” cycling races, which have become quite popular in Europe for decades, have managed to spread to other continents and attract intense interest.

Among the most well-known Gran Fondo races in Turkey that bring together cycling enthusiasts as a sporting competition, cultural experience, or social responsibility movement are AKRA Gran Fondo Antalya, Salcano Gran Fondo Marmaris, Salcano Gran Fondo Kapadokya, and Veloturk Gran Fondo Çeşme.