CYCLING – TEAM Bahrain Victorious is set to take on the 47th edition of the Tour de Hongrie – a five-stage race starting today and covering 829 kilometres across southern Hungary from Gyula to Veszprem.
Leading the team’s general classification (GC) ambitions is Jakob Omrzel, supported by a strong and versatile line-up including Phil Bauhaus, Nikias Arndt, Alessandro Borgo, and Rainer Kepplinger, with Attila Valter rounding out the team as he races on home roads in front of local fans.
“It’s really amazing to race in my hometown and in my home country, especially because six years ago this was my last international race in Hungary before 2020, when I won this race,” said Valter.
“Of course, I race the national championships every year but I have so many great memories from cycling, and the victory at the Tour de Hongrie is definitely one of the best.
“I’ve done many races since then, so it’s special to come back. We also have several strong Hungarian riders in the peloton, which will make it even more exciting.
“It’s going to be a great race. A lot of riders enjoy this event, and it’s very well organised. I’m really happy to race in front of the Hungarian fans again.”
Adding to the occasion, Bahrain Victorious will compete with a special limited-edition helmet celebrating its partnership with Hungarian logistics company United Shipping. The design features the United Shipping logo mark on the top of the helmet alongside the Hungarian flag, marking the team’s presence at the country’s national tour.
The route features 12 categorised climbs across the five stages, with nearly 5,500 metres of elevation gain. The opening three stages are expected to favour the sprinters, while stage four will serve as the queen stage and the race’s only summit finish on the lone first-category climb in Pecs. The final stage is set to be unpredictable, with rolling terrain and repeated elevation changes likely to create aggressive racing despite a flat finish.
Bahrain Victorious sports director Borut Bozic is confident in the team’s balance across both sprint stages and the GC battle.
“We have three sprint stages at the beginning where Phil will have his opportunities,” explained Bozic. “He is very motivated, and we expect him to be competitive.
“The final two stages will be key for the GC, where Jakob is our leader. Stage four will show where he stands, but the last stage will also be demanding. We have a strong group around them with Nikias, Alessandro, Attila on home roads, and the experienced Rainer. We are ready to fight for a strong GC result.”
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