Team ISS Academy Closes the Season on a High in Antalya

Team ISS Academy Closes the Season on a High in Antalya

UCI Granfondo World Series Antalya delivered another unforgettable weekend of racing. As one of the season’s closing fixtures, the event drew elite and amateur cyclists from around the world to a course set on narrow, highly technical rural roads around Antalya, featuring demanding sequences of descents, climbs, and cornering that rewarded skill and nerve as much as raw power.

Time Trial: Strong Opening by Our Riders

On day one, Ozan Özlem and Stephen Moores raced the individual Time Trial for our team. Both executed disciplined efforts—holding aero positions through exposed sections and staying clean in the technical turns—to post competitive marks in their categories and set the tone for the weekend.

Road Race: Strategy, Grit, and a Late Twist

The main road race saw Mutlu Erçevik, Ozan Özlem, Recep Ünalan, Onur Dağlıoğlu, and Stephen Moores on the start line for Team ISS Academy. Over 90+ kilometers of relentlessly technical terrain, the race quickly became a high-speed chess match of positioning, timing, and risk management.

In the decisive finale, Recep Ünalan was perfectly placed into the last kilometer—well-set to contest the sprint and overall victory—before a crash through the final corner blunted our winning move. Showing trademark resilience, he remounted, sustained only minor scrapes, and fought on to finish.

Back-to-Back Podiums for Onur Dağlıoğlu

Fresh from success in Çeşme, Onur Dağlıoğlu once again rose to the occasion, taking 2nd in the Elite Men’s categoryagainst a strong international field. The result underlines both Onur’s personal form and our team’s ability to compete at international level across varied courses and conditions.

Why Antalya Matters in the UCI World Series

As part of the UCI Granfondo World Series, Antalya plays a key role in Turkey’s global cycling footprint. By combining world-class organization with a uniquely technical course profile, the event showcases the sport’s growth in the region. Our team’s performances in both the Time Trial and Road Race further strengthen that momentum and provide a powerful springboard for the coming season.

A Fitting Finish—and Bigger Goals Ahead

For Team ISS Academy, Antalya was the capstone event of the 2025 season. With consistent international appearances, podiums, and category results throughout the year, our team closed the campaign exactly as we intend to open the next: ambitious, united, and aiming higher.