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May 13, 2026
47th Tour de Hongrie 2026 🇭🇺 (2.Pro) ME – Stage 1 – Gyula – Békéscsaba : 1473,1 km
Tour de Hongrie is a UCI 2.Pro classification that unfolds across the diverse and often dramatic landscapes of Hungary,
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May 13, 2026
47th Tour de Hongrie 2026 🇭🇺 (2.Pro) ME – Stage 1 – Gyula – Békéscsaba : 1473,1 km
Tour de Hongrie is a UCI 2.Pro classification that unfolds across the diverse and often dramatic landscapes of Hungary, where the roads weave through a mix of rolling plains, volcanic hills, and steep, forested climbs that reveal the country’s unexpected topographical variety. The terrain is a blend of long, gradual ascents and shorter, punchier climbs, with gradients that rarely exceed 10% but are relentless in their repetition, particularly in the northern regions where the route tackles the Bakony and Börzsöny mountain ranges. The climbs are often technical, with tight switchbacks and uneven surfaces that demand focus, while the descents are fast and winding, their narrow lanes and sharp bends testing riders’ nerve and precision. The flatter stages, typically found in the Great Hungarian Plain, are deceptively challenging, with long, straight roads exposed to crosswinds that can split the peloton and turn the race into a tactical battle for shelter and position. The race dynamics are defined by these climbs and wind-exposed stretches, with attacks launching on the steepest ramps or during moments of echelon formation, the peloton thinning as fatigue sets in. The final kilometers often feature a decisive ascent, a fast, technical run-in, or a reduced bunch sprint, where positioning and timing are critical. The Tour de Hongrie is a race that rewards versatility, testing riders’ ability to climb, descend, and adapt to a course that blends the raw difficulty of the Hungarian highlands with the tactical nuances of a stage race. Its mix of terrain ensures that no single type of rider dominates, making it a true test of endurance, strategy, and resilience.
Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) sprinted to victory in the opening stage of the Tour de Hongrie. He beat Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) to the line in Békéscsaba to the line in a bunch sprint finish to end the 143km stage.
Soudal-QuickStep, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and Jayco-AlUla led the way into the final of the flat opener shortly after the day’s two-man break was caught, while XDS-Astana also worked on the front in the final kilometres before QuickStep and UAE went head-to-head at the finish.
Molano launched first, darting from behind the wheel of his teammate, Rui Oliveira, at 150 metres to go. The Colombian wouldn’t celebrate his first win of the season, however.
Instead, Merlier, powering from behind, came through to take the glory. The Belgian may have only been riding his fifth race day of 2026, but he had the closing speed to take his third win of the year.
“Dainese and Bert did a good job, definitely. They lost each other a bit, but they didn’t stress about it. With 500 to go, Bert brought me in a perfect position,” Merlier said after the stage.
“We still did a little bit of a leadout. Then I was waiting until 200 metres to go, and then I launched it.
“The feeling is OK. It’s my fifth race of the season and my third win, so I can only be happy.”
The opening stage of the 47th Tour of Hongrie took the peloton on a pan-flat route from Gyula to Békéscsaba featuring three long laps between the two towns. The stage was always destined to end in a bunch sprint, but that didn’t stop attacks from going from the start.
Lidl-Trek riders Mathias Sunekær Norsgaard and Kristian Egholm got into the break of the day, the Danish duo racing clear to a two-minute advantage along the way.
Behind them, the sprinters’ teams, including Jayco-AlUla and Soudal-QuickStep, controlled the peloton. At the second passage of the finish line, 54km from the line, the sprint squads had reduced the gap to 50 seconds in anticipation of the finish.
Results :
 ME - Stage 1 </strong> - Gyula - Békéscsaba : 1473,1 km
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Tour de Hongrie is a UCI 2.Pro classification that unfolds across the diverse and often dramatic landscapes of Hungary, where the roads weave through a mix of rolling plains, volcanic hills, and steep, forested climbs that reveal the country’s unexpected topographical variety. The terrain is a blend of long, gradual ascents and shorter, punchier climbs, with gradients that rarely exceed 10% but are relentless in their repetition, particularly in the northern regions where the route tackles the Bakony and Börzsöny mountain ranges. The climbs are often technical, with tight switchbacks and uneven surfaces that demand focus, while the descents are fast and winding, their narrow lanes and sharp bends testing riders’ nerve and precision. The flatter stages, typically found in the Great Hungarian Plain, are deceptively challenging, with long, straight roads exposed to crosswinds that can split the peloton and turn the race into a tactical battle for shelter and position. The race dynamics are defined by these climbs and wind-exposed stretches, with attacks launching on the steepest ramps or during moments of echelon formation, the peloton thinning as fatigue sets in. The final kilometers often feature a decisive ascent, a fast, technical run-in, or a reduced bunch sprint, where positioning and timing are critical. The Tour de Hongrie is a race that rewards versatility, testing riders’ ability to climb, descend, and adapt to a course that blends the raw difficulty of the Hungarian highlands with the tactical nuances of a stage race. Its mix of terrain ensures that no single type of rider dominates, making it a true test of endurance, strategy, and resilience.
Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) sprinted to victory in the opening stage of the Tour de Hongrie. He beat Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) to the line in Békéscsaba to the line in a bunch sprint finish to end the 143km stage.
Soudal-QuickStep, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and Jayco-AlUla led the way into the final of the flat opener shortly after the day's two-man break was caught, while XDS-Astana also worked on the front in the final kilometres before QuickStep and UAE went head-to-head at the finish.
Molano launched first, darting from behind the wheel of his teammate, Rui Oliveira, at 150 metres to go. The Colombian wouldn't celebrate his first win of the season, however.
Instead, Merlier, powering from behind, came through to take the glory. The Belgian may have only been riding his fifth race day of 2026, but he had the closing speed to take his third win of the year.
"Dainese and Bert did a good job, definitely. They lost each other a bit, but they didn't stress about it. With 500 to go, Bert brought me in a perfect position," Merlier said after the stage.
"We still did a little bit of a leadout. Then I was waiting until 200 metres to go, and then I launched it.
"The feeling is OK. It's my fifth race of the season and my third win, so I can only be happy."
The opening stage of the 47th Tour of Hongrie took the peloton on a pan-flat route from Gyula to Békéscsaba featuring three long laps between the two towns. The stage was always destined to end in a bunch sprint, but that didn't stop attacks from going from the start.
Lidl-Trek riders Mathias Sunekær Norsgaard and Kristian Egholm got into the break of the day, the Danish duo racing clear to a two-minute advantage along the way.
Behind them, the sprinters' teams, including Jayco-AlUla and Soudal-QuickStep, controlled the peloton. At the second passage of the finish line, 54km from the line, the sprint squads had reduced the gap to 50 seconds in anticipation of the finish.
<strong>Results : </strong>
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