Traffic-free Streets

Twice this week, Bodrum's streets have been peaceful.  Jake and I have enjoyed taking our morning walk down the middle of the road, unbothered by car horns.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if traffic could be excluded from the centre for a few hours every day, not just in the run-up to international sporting events. 

Sunday saw Bodrum host it's first Global Run. Competitors ran three laps around Bodrum, starting at the cruise liner port and looping back at the marina.  On a dull, pre-storm Sunday,  there weren't many people out watching, but over 1000 runners were on the streets. 

The race followed our afternoon dog-walking route.  I now know that we cover 5 kms .

The 6th stage of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey started at 11:30 in the main square today, but the roads were closed early so Jake and I again had a pleasant wander before the riders arrived. 

All information about this year's race is on the http://www.tourofturkey.org/ website.

I wrote about the race last year in Bikes in Bodrum. This year I found a much better spot to watch the start but had to defend myself against the sharp elbows of the "professional" photographers who swung in at the last minute with long lenses flying.  

Even professional sportsmen take time out for a holiday snap. 

The start. 

Bikes in Bodrum

The 6th stage of the Presidential Cycle Race started in Bodrum this morning.  The main square was transformed yet again as professional cyclists rode back and forth between the stage, hospitality tent and the starting gate mingling with race organisers, press photographers and tourists.  Yesterday I tried and failed to get some photos of the 5th stage as the riders whizzed through Bodrum on their way to the finish in Turgutreis  so I arrived early today to  snap the contenders before they zoomed off.

A leisurely peddle 30 minutes before the start

Each team was interviewed in a mixture of English, Turkish, French and Italian.

Bodrum also had two large cruise ships in today, which added to the bustle. 

On the start line
The turquoise jersey is worn by the leader, the red jersey by the best climber.

The start - 11:40am as advertised!

I was surprised at how relaxed they all looked considering they were just about to set off on a 182 km journey, culminating in a 6km twisting climb to Merymana, which is daunting in coach or car.  The Turkish flags will have been out in force at the finish as Mustafa Sayer crossed the line first and seized the overall lead. 

A boy can dream.