After 15 Years a Hungarian Cyclist Wins Tour de Hongrie

Hungary Today 2020.09.03.

After a thrilling last leg ending on Kékes, Hungary’s highest summit, Attila Valter claimed victory at the 41st Tour de Hongrie, the first Hungarian cyclist to be able do so in the last 15 years.

The five-day-long cycling competition was held between August 29th and September 2nd, after it was pushed back from May 13-17 in view of the novel coronavirus epidemic. Luckily, however, it could be organized at the end of the summer. This year, the competition was hosted by the cities of Debrecen, Hajdúszoboszló, Karcag, Nyíregyháza, Sárospatak, Kazincbarcika, Miskolc, Gyöngyös, and Esztergom.

Fact

The Tour de Hongrie was first organized in 1925, nine decades ago, on June 27th and riders left from the Gellért Hotel in Budapest. The 510.5 km route of the first ‘Hungarian Tour de France’ was Budapest-Győr-Szombathely-Budapest, first completed by Károly Jerzsabek in 22 hours and 10 minutes. Since then, a variety of routes were assigned, with the longest one of 1,393 km. After a five year long break, it was renewed in 2015, and has since been organized each year. The last Hungarian who won was Tamás Lengyel, in 2005.

Five world, and eight pro teams participated in this year’s edition, including talented Hungarian cyclists, such as Attila Valter, Márton Dina, Barnabás Peák, and Erik Fetter.

Simmons (US), Valter and Howson (AUS) on the podium.

With his excellent finish, Valter managed to beat two of his rivals on Kékes. As a result, besides achieving the yellow jersey, he also emerged the best mountain climber, and of course gained the white jersey too, for emerging as the best Hungarian in the competition.

images via Péter Komka/MTI