Tour of Hungary
The annual Tour de Hongrie cycling event promises excitement, drama and outstanding sporting achievements once more this year as cyclists roll through Hungary’s picturesque landscapes.
The 45th edition of the Hungarian circuit race runs from Karcag via Budapest to Pécs. The racers will start on May 8th with a flat 170 km stage between Karcag and Hajdúszoboszló. This is followed by the route across the vineyards between Tokaj and Kazincbarcika over a total of 162 km and more than 1,000 meters in altitude.
The long climb to the “Blue Roof”
The longest and at the same time particularly challenging route, which may be decisive for the outcome of the race, will be the third stage. The cyclists climb a distance of 183 km to Kékestető, the highest point in Hungary; At more than 2,700 meters in altitude, the endurance of the riders is truly put to the test. Whoever can take the lead here has a good chance of overall victory.
Pécs promises a brilliant finale
In addition to the wonderful landscapes of Hungary, spectators can also enjoy the sights of the capital. The fourth stage starts at Budapest’s Heroes’ Square and leads over 166 km to Etyek. The 854-kilometer race will end on May 12 in Pécs, where the racers will cycle over 173 km from Siófok. As in the previous year, the goal is to climb to the Pécs Zoo. The professional cyclists have to complete the circuit through the fascinating city three times with an incline of 11% (!).
This year’s Tour de Hongrie promises a lot of excitement, not least because the total altitude difference of the route is 7,871 meters, the highest since the new edition of the Tour de Hongrie in 2015.
Cycling through dream landscapes
In addition to the sporting aspect, the Tour de Hongrie also offers great opportunities (for fans) to discover the beautiful sides and diversity of Hungary. While the athletes cycle through nine counties and 81 towns, spectators along the route or on the screens have the opportunity to experience the country’s unique culture and landscape. The nine start/destination cities receive particularly high attention.
“The importance of this race for Hungarian cycling cannot be overemphasized. Since the race’s revival in 2015, the Tour de Hongrie has continued to grow and become a fixture on the international cycling calendar. Hungarian cycling is currently experiencing its heyday, if you just think of names like Valter Attila or Vas Kata Blanka,” says State Secretary Ádám Schmidt.
In recent years, more and more well-known names in cycling, such as Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan, have taken part in the Tour de Hongrie. This year also promises a fantastic sporting event in which Marc Hirschi (Switzerland) will do everything he can to defend his title from last year. From the Hungarian side, Márton Dina is seen as a bearer of hope for a surprise success.
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