Swiss cycler wins Istanbul cycling grand prix

ANKARA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- A Swiss cyclist won the first leg of the cycling tour of Turkey that kicked off in the largest city of Istanbul on Sunday.

Rast Gregory of Switzerland became the winner of the Istanbul Grand Prix, the first leg of the tour, that took start from the Sultanahmet Square, the heart of the metropolis.

Gregory biked the first leg in 2.03.09, while Ginanni Francescoof Italy came the second and Garcia Depana David was the third.

Only eight of 148 cyclists could complete all 30 laps.

The cyclists will fly to Aegean province of Izmir to compete in the second leg on Monday.

The tour, comprised of one grand prix (Istanbul) and seven laps, will end on April 20th. Cyclists will ride 1,071 kilometers during the tour.

The cyclists will follow a route from the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul to the southern city of Antalya, via some Aegean and Mediterranean towns.