Tour of Hungary
The biggest cycling race in Hungary started on Wednesday in Karcag.
The Australian Sam Welsford won the first stage over 166 km through the flat Puszta country with the finish in Hajdúszoboszló. In addition to enthusiastic cycling fans who had brought their own bikes, the competitive athletes were cheered on by numerous school classes as well as by foreign fans who signaled their German or Slovakian origins with national flags. For the professional athletes, the gray cattle grazing peacefully in the Hortobágy represented a real Hungarian among the onlookers.
The weather wasn’t at its best, although the clouds only revealed a little rain, the wind was blowing uncomfortably hard. During intermediate sprints, the Hungarians Balázs Rózsa and Viktor Filutás (who incidentally comes from Karcag and therefore had the best local knowledge) were in the top group. As the best Hungarian, Rózsa can wear the white jersey at the finish on the second day.
The destination of the Tour de Hongrie is Pécs on Sunday. Until then, the cyclists have to pedal 850 km and climb 7,870 meters in altitude.
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