A continental stage race that crosses Azerbaijan from the Caspian coast to the highlands, offering a rare window into racing across the South Caucasus.
The Baku-Khankendi Azerbaijan Cycling Race is a four-day men's stage race held each May on the continental calendar. The route typically runs from the capital on the Caspian Sea eastward into the mountainous interior of Azerbaijan.
Also known as: Tour d Azerbaidjan (2013-2017)
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This is one of the few stage races held in the South Caucasus, and the route offers a geographic arc that few other races can match: from sea-level Baku through steppe and into the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus. The race attracts continental teams looking for stage-race rhythm in May, and the shifting terrain across four days rewards riders who can handle both flat, windy opening stages and punchy climbing finales.
The race typically opens with flat or rolling stages near Baku, where crosswinds off the Caspian and nervous positioning can split the field early. As the route moves inland, the terrain rises, and the final stages usually include climbs steep enough to separate the general classification. The time gaps tend to be modest, so positioning, bonus seconds, and late-stage attacks matter more than sustained mountain dominance. Expect the GC to be decided by a combination of climbing punch and consistency across the flatter opening days, rather than by a single mountain stage.
The route crosses Azerbaijan from sea-level Baku through steppe and into the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus, creating a geographic arc unlike any other race.
Flat stages near the Caspian coast expose the peloton to wind that can split the field into echelons and catch GC contenders off guard.
Won the 2015 Tour d Azerbaidjan before becoming a Grand Tour champion. His early victory here is a footnote in a career that would reach the very top.
The Azerbaijani capital on the Caspian Sea provides the ceremonial start. The modern skyline gives the race a distinctive visual identity.
The race moves inland toward the Caucasus mountains, with rising terrain that tests climbers on the later stages.
