L’Étape Turkey by Tour de France, recognized as the Turkish leg of the world’s most prestigious cycling race, took place on October 11-12 in the heart of Istanbul. The vehicle that led the peloton was the red, next-generation Škoda Kodiaq RS.
The L’Étape Turkey by Tour de France event saw the participation of over 2,000 cyclists. The race featured two iconic courses: a long 105 km route and a shorter 52 km route, which included the famous Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Second Bosphorus Bridge). Leading the peloton for the event was the red, new-generation Škoda Kodiaq RS.
Zafer Başar, General Manager of Yüce Auto-Škoda, began his remarks by emphasizing that a passion for cycling is deeply embedded in the Škoda brand’s DNA.
“Exactly 130 years ago, the first step taken by the brand’s founders, Laurin and Klement, with their Slavia bicycle factory, laid the foundation for Škoda,” said Başar. “After manufacturing bicycles for nearly 10 years, the brand began producing its first car under the name Laurin & Klement in 1905. Today, this deeply rooted connection is further strengthened by Škoda‘s long-standing partnership with the Tour de France, one of the world’s most prestigious cycling organizations. The spirit of curiosity and exploration, which is part of Škoda’s core brand strategy, inspires us to participate in organizations like this. Based on this, it is highly valuable for us to be a companion supporting athletes, both amateur and professional, who are involved in cycling.”
Başar noted that the event area, set up at the Beykoz Sports Forest, felt like a festival for families and young people. “The interest shown by children and young people in cycling, which is one of the top sustainable mobility solutions, is very precious to us. Families who joined us over the race weekend had the chance to both inspect the bicycles and share a unique L’Étape Turkey by Tour de France experience with us,” he added.
The organization stands out as the only cycling race that stretches from Asia to Europe and from the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea, offering participants an experience unparalleled anywhere else in the world.
Starting from the Beykoz Sports Forest in the morning, the race courses—the 105 km long and 52 km short routes—rekindled the Tour de France energy for participants as they cycled from the Istanbul Bosphorus to the Black Sea coast.
