Palandöken aims to host Mountain Biking World Cup

Palandöken, a prominent ski tourism center in Turkey, aims to host major international events such as the Mountain Biking World Cup. The region is leveraging its high altitude, favorable summer climate, and developing trails to attract professional athletes and international teams for high-altitude training camps.

Since the revival of mountain biking competitions in 2023, the area has seen significant growth. To date, Palandöken has hosted six international mountain bike races, welcoming over 2,000 athletes from 15 different countries. The region's inclusion in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) calendar and the recent hosting of the 'MTB Cup Series' have bolstered its reputation within the global cycling community.

Mustafa Kocaman, Chairman of the Mountain Biking and BMX Technical Committee of the Turkish Cycling Federation, noted that Palandöken served as a pilot location for the federation's project to utilize ski resorts for summer mountain biking. Ongoing efforts by the federation aim to secure even larger national and international competitions for the destination in the coming years.