Cyclist Cavendish has ‘no political agenda in Turkey’
ISTANBUL
AA Photo
British cyclist Mark Cavendish has said he had “no agenda” when he left the stage during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s speech at an award ceremony in Istanbul on May 3.Cavendish was called back to the stage by Erdoğan’s bodyguards as the Turkish president was giving a speech at the conclusion of the 51st Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey.
The incident immediately became a trending topic on social media with many commentators arguing that Cavendish was “bored” by Erdoğan’s lengthy speech.
The cyclist, who declined to comment on a question during the press conference regarding his behavior at the time, addressed the issue late May 3.
“I’m a sportsman and have no political agenda in Turkey! What I do know is that it’s a beautiful place, with incredibly welcoming people,” he said in a tweet.
Earlier, the Turkish presidency dismissed any allegations about the incident on its Twitter account.
Cavendish, from the Isle of Man, is one of the world cycling’s best sprinters.