Human Powered Health™ heads to Turkey’s beautiful Mediterranean coast for its first participation in the Tour of Antalya. Running from February 10 to 13, with the potential of three bunch sprints, there is plenty for the team’s fans to be excited about.
Sprinter Arvid de Kleijn returns to the land of four seasons, having won the opening stage of the 2021 Tour of Turkey in a thrilling bike throw for the line. The Dutchman will bring along a new-look lead-out train that features August Jensen and Wessel Krul both making their race debuts for the team.
The team will face tough sprint competition in the form of seasoned Belgian sprinter Timothy Dupont (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), Jakub Mareczko (Alpecin-Fenix) and Tord Gudmestad (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team), with overall victory likely going to the rider who conquers stage 3’s uphill finish to Termessos.
The backdrop to the action will be the stunning pearl of the Mediterranean that is the Antalya region. A center for tourism, sport, science and culture, Antalya has been home to many civilizations throughout its rich history. As a result, the team is going to have more of a cultural and tourism theme in its coverage within the race.
Stage by stage
2/10 Stage 1 | Side – Antalya (157km) Flat
The opening stage follows a flat route before heading up the 1.2km climb prime, the only bump on the route profile. Then comes a bonus sprint inside the airport before the riders head to a coastal road, passing the beautiful Düden Waterfalls, on the way to an expected bunch sprint.
2/11 Stage 2 | Kemer – Antalya (182.6km) Rolling
Stage 2 takes in some of the best historical landmarks Antalya has to offer, including the ancient Greek city of Phaselis. A ruined, majestic Rhodian settlement from 700 BC, the peloton will pass it twice on this hilly out and back route that will likely finish in a sprint from a reduced group.
2/12 Stage 3 | Aspendos – Termessos (110.9km) Uphill finish
The Queen stage of the race is certainly not one to miss if you’re a fan of awe-inspiring views. After a flat start to the day, the route takes on the 8.8km climb up to the ancient city of Termessos. The tree-lined climb was not even conquered by Alexander the Great who called it an “eagle’s nest.” With tombs cut into the rock face and a ruined theater that juts out like a Turkish Machu Picchu, this stage finish is one of the most beautiful of any race in 2022.
2/13 Stage 4 | Antalya – Antalya (161.5km) Flat
There is a climb to a plateau in the early stages of this race finale but that is about as hilly as the day gets. The route is the opening stage of the 2020 edition but in reverse so another chance for the team’s sprint-conscious lineup to contest for victory in the city that gives the race its name.
Antalya fact-file
- Antalya has been a human settlement for millennia, yes millennia 🗿
- Mount Chimaera has burning flames coming from gas vents that have been burning for, you guessed it, millennia 🔥
- Antalya is twinned with both Austin, Texas and Miami, Florida 🏖
- Pisidia, Lycia, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman, are just some of the civilizations that have called Antalya home 🇹🇷
- Although usually counted as part of Europe, Antalya and the whole Anatolian region is officially part of Asia 🌏
Tour of Antalya roster
Arvid de Kleijn
Adam de Vos
August Jensen
Colin Joyce
Wessel Krul
Kyle Murphy
Nickolas Zukowsky
How to watch
Keep up with the team’s updates on social media as we will be bringing wall-to-wall coverage from on the ground in Turkey. Also, make sure to subscribe to the Tour of Antalya’s YouTube channel as it will broadcast live coverage from the race.
