THE HIGHEST SPEED OF PELOTON EVER
36th Iran-Azerbaijan Cycling Tour, August 26-31, 2023
Stage 2 (August 28)
Route: Tabriz-Marand-Jolfa, 148.9 km.

The second day of the competition of cyclists in the international tour of IRAN-Azerbaijan started from Tabriz and rushed to Jolfa. The distance was 148.9 km. From the beginning, one could guess the high speed of the peloton on the route, but no one imagined the speed of 90 kilometers per hour at some points!
At 9:00 a.m., the competition started from the public Shah Golu Park in Tabriz, and 81 cyclists pedaled on the southern highway of the city (Tabriz) at an incredible high speed.
The flat road from Tabriz to Sufian was smooth and the peloton was moving very fast. The peloton was not dispersed, though in rare cases few riders rushed forward and soon the other riders joined them. In the small town of Suphian, people were standing on the sides of the road and cheering the cyclists. On the road from Suphian to Marand, the speed of the cyclists increased. The group of cyclists in Yam region crossed the north of Mishu Mountain and reached the western slope of Marand city. The speed increased again. Between Marand and Jolfa, the road had a steep slope. In the distance from Marand to Jolfa, the wind was blowing behind the cyclists and it was a good help to push the riders forward. The speed of the peloton was very high and it sometimes reached 90 kilometers per hour. Overall, the average speed of the second stage was fifty kilometers per hour.
In Jolfa, many people cheered the cyclists at the finish line, while the podium was ready for the winners to stand on. At the end of the second stage, the following results were obtained:

Stage 2 Individual Classification:
Lucas Carstensen (62, ROI, GER) (YELLOW JERSEY)
Ali Labib Shotorban (1, MSV, IRI)
Sarawut Sirironnachai (31, THA)
Stage 2 Best Younger Riders 
Ali Labib Shotorban (1, MSV, IRI) (WHITE JERSEY)
Ean Cajucom (85, (VSC, PHI)
Nikita Bezruchko (15, ALT, KAZ)
Satge 2 Team Classification
TERENGGANU POLYGON CYCLING TEAM
THAILND CONTINENTAL CYCLING TEAM
MATRIX POWERTAG
The cyclists and the whole people accompanying the tour will pass the night in Jolfa, a city on the Iran-Armenia borderline, and the 3rd stage will start on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 from Jolfa to a town called “Shabester”. The riders will return to Tabriz by the busses provided for them. 

(Reported by: Abdullah Bageri Hamidi)