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As in the first edition a century ago, the Tour de Hongrie road cycling race taking place in May will start from St. Gellért Square in Budapest and finish at the Esztergom Basilica, it was revealed at the route presentation on Tuesday.
This year’s edition will take place between May 14 and 18 with three flat stages, one mountain stage, and one transition stage. Participants will be able to collect points and bonus seconds in 13 individual time-trials. The 885-kilometer race will feature ten categorized climbs: in addition to the first category Blue Roof, cyclists will have to conquer four second and five third category “climbs” to score mountain points, with a total of more than 7,000 meters of ascent.
The route passes through a total of 101 towns and villages, in addition to the capital.
45th Tour de Hongrie’s Budapest – Etyek section on the Chain Bridge in Budapest last year. Photo: MTI/Máthé Zoltán
The main organizer, Károly Eisenkrammer, explained that a cycling day with a team presentation would be held on the first day of the race, May 13. On the opening day, the peloton will cycle from the capital to Győr, the 210-kilometer distance being the longest in the Hungarian event since 2008. This will be followed by another stage between Veszprém and Siófok, which is also expected to be a highlight for the peloton.
Károly Eisenkrammer. Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán
The overall result is expected to be decided on the ‘King’s Day’ on the third day of the race, when the cyclists will start from Gödöllő and finish at Kékestető, before the Tata-Székesfehérvár stage and the Etyek-Esztergom stage of the Tour de Hongrie, which is part of the ProSeries series of the International Cycling Union (UCI / Union Cycliste Internationale).
Peloton at the 45th Tour de Hongrie’s Tokaj – Kazincbarcika section, near Tarcal. Photo: MTI/Derencsényi István
Máriusz Révész, the State Secretary for Active Hungary, recalled that when he was approached by Károly Eisenkrammer ten years ago with the idea of the relaunch of the Tour in 2015, neither had imagined that it would be such a success, “allowing the whole world to see what a fantastic country we live in.”
The Nine-arched Bridge in Hortobágy in the 45th Tour de Hongrie’s Karcag – Hajdúszoboszló section. Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt
Kazincbarcika, in the 45th Tour de Hongrie’s Tokaj – Kazincbarcika section. Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt
Alongside the Hungarian continental teams (Karcag Cycling ÉPKAR, Epronex-Hungary, United Shipping), the Italian-registered MBH Bank Ballan CSB, with a Hungarian title sponsor and five Hungarian cyclists, will also take part in the Tour de Hongrie.
Révész revealed that he hopes Hungarian fans will be able to celebrate a Hungarian stage win and a top ten finish in the overall classification.
Domonkos Schneller, President of the Hungarian Cycling Federation (MKSZ), said that never before have 15 Hungarian cyclists competed in such a category of race. He expressed the hope that the Tour de Hongrie for women could be organized “in the foreseeable future.”
Peloton in the 45th Tour de Hongrie’s Siófok – Pécs finishing section. Photo: MTI/Ruprech Judit
The 46th Tour de Hongrie program:
Wednesday, May 14: stage 1, Budapest-Győr, 210 km (ascent: 1,042 m)
Thursday, May 15: stage 2, Veszprém-Siófok, 178 km (ascent: 1,244 m)
Friday, May 16: Stage 3, Gödöllő – Gyöngyös-Kékestető, 163 km (ascent: 1,974 m)
Saturday, May 17: stage 4, Tata-Székesfehérvár, 167 km (ascent: 1,035 m)
Sunday, May 18: stage 5, Etyek-Esztergom, 167 km (ascent: 1,858 m)
Total distance: 885 km (total ascent: 7,153 m)
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Derencsényi István