The 36^th edition of International Azerbaijan (IRAN) Cycling Tour started with 156 cyclists competing from Tabriz to Kandovan at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, 2023. The first-day race to cover a distance of 51 km initiated to introduce the Kandovan Tour, registered in the UCI calendar.

Kandovan is a unique village in which the houses are dug out in the huge masses of cone-shaped rocks. The history of the village is not scientifically identified; however, it may date back to the pre-history time when the people lived in the places with the cattle of sheep and goats to survive the freezing cold winters.

The road for the first day race is extended through Tabriz to the towns Sahand and Osku, and the villages Isfanjan and Kahnemu to reach the village Kandovan. The steep slope of road and the unexpected turns made the race very hard for the cyclists on the first day. However, The race finished and the following cyclists stood on the Podium:

1-    Anton Kozmin (12, KAZAKHSTAN ALMATY CYCLING TEAM)

2-    Anatole Bodiak (26, TERENGGANU POLYGON Malaysia)

3-    Aria Funsafat (63, RJC - ROOJAI CYCLING TEAM)

(Reported by: Abdullah Bageri Hamidi)

Download Kandowan Tour Results