Tour de Hongrie: Pécs rode together despite the bad weather

On May 16, the weather posed challenges not only for the riders of the Tour de Hongrie but also for the fans. Despite the inclement weather, however, many people still joined the University of Pécs’s community bike ride, which was part of the Pécs events for Hungary’s largest and most prestigious road cycling race. Throughout the day, the University of Pécs welcomed visitors at multiple locations with various programs and activities.

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Organised by the University of Pécs, the bike ride starting from the western part of the city set off from the Drótszamár KRESZ Park, rode through the city, and then met up with the Bicibusz community arriving from the eastern part of the city at Széchenyi Square. It was a special pleasure for us that Dorka Jordán, a multiple Hungarian champion road cyclist and alumna of the PTE Faculty of Business and Economics, joined the Uránváros contingent.

The joint ride was not about a competitive tour, but about a community experience: families, students, faculty, children, and experienced cyclists rode together through the city, accompanied by police and motorcyclists. Participants in the PTE ride set off in special T-shirts made for the event despite the inclement weather, and a cyclist’s brunch awaited everyone arriving on two wheels at the finish line.

The cyclists were also greeted by Attila Péterffy, mayor of Pécs, who expressed his delight that so many people had made their way to the heart of the city despite the inclement weather. In his speech, he emphasized that although Pécs’s conditions are not the most ideal for cycling, they are striving to do everything possible to support those who choose this sustainable mode of transportation. Following the welcome address, the traditional group bike lift took place once again this year.

The III. Zsolnay Cup was held in conjunction with the race, serving as one of the Tour de Hongrie’s most spectacular events in Pécs. The unique feature of this 3.4-kilometer closed-course mountain race was that both licensed and amateur cyclists could ride along the same closed route that the professional peloton would later traverse.

The race started at Széchenyi Square, then proceeded along Hunyadi János Street and Bárány Street all the way to the finish line in front of the zoo, with participants tackling an elevation gain of over 250 meters. The Zsolnay Cup gave cyclists from Pécs and the surrounding area the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the Tour de Hongrie under real race conditions, while also allowing the public to get to know the stars of Hungarian amateur and junior cycling.

The live broadcast of the Tour de Hongrie could be watched on a screen in Széchenyi Square, and until the peloton arrived, various performances took place on stage: the PTE Brass Band and the PTE PEAC Cheerleading Team performed, and the PSN Breaking Team also made an appearance.

Supporters and partners of the Tour de Hongrie—including Škoda, Kometa, and Cofidis—welcomed downtown spectators with various games, activities, and performances.

In connection with the race and the Vasarely commemorative year, a Vasarely flash mob was held in the courtyard of the Downtown Elementary School, organised by students and faculty of the University of Pécs Faculty of Arts, including Luca Kovács, winner of the Vasarely logo design competition.

At Kossuth Square, the Pécs University Sports community raised awareness about the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle, while the PTE Faculty of Sciences also welcomed fans with games. In addition, the Civil Guard and the Disaster Management Agency set up booths, so visitors to the city centre could enjoy not only sports programs but also educational and prevention activities, demonstrations, and interactive games.

Due to the all-day rain, the organizers of the Tour de Hongrie modified the fourth stage between Mohács and Pécs for the safety of the riders: the start was postponed by one hour, and the Villány–Siklós–Harkány loop was cancelled, so the peloton ultimately arrived in the city after a shorter, 143-kilometer route.

However, the finish in Pécs and the Mecsek circuit still posed a serious challenge for the peloton. The organizers ultimately reduced the Mecsek circuit—originally to be completed four times—to three laps, as the safety of the riders became the top priority due to poor weather conditions and a crash.

The stage winner’s prize was presented by dr. Attila Miseta, rector of the University of Pécs, to Sweden’s Jakob Söderqvist (Lidl–Trek), who also took the lead in the overall standings. The most successful Hungarian rider was Attila Valter, who finished in 11th place.

Article: Martina Aknai-Kiss
Photos: Bálint Molnár, Zoltán 'Gadget' Kiss
Translation: Hanna Leemans