Batman Governor Ahmet Deniz, Deputy Mayor Vice President Ertuğ Şevket Aksoy and President of the Bicycle Federation Bayram Akgül started the bicycle race at 15.00.

Hosted by Batman Governorship and Batman Municipality, the tour was supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Turkish Cycling Federation, Turkish Airlines as well as some other companies. The second day of the International Bicycle Tour, which started in Mardin the previous day, was held in Batman, and then participants moved to neighboring province Diyarbakır for the third lap.

A total of 152 athletes participated in four categories of bike tournaments: Grand Men - Young Men - Star Men and Master Men. The 35 athletes participating in the tour are said to have joined from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kosovo and Serbia. During the tour many television channels were broadcasting live.

Sportsmen entering the bicycle race were given medals and were awarded gold by the Governor Ahmet Deniz. (ILKHA)