• 2024-05-08
• Tour de Hongrie

Sam Welsford won the opening stage in Hungary!

The Australian rider from BORA-hansgrohe took the first yellow jersey after a chaotic sprint in Hajdúszoboszló.

In Karcag, Abdrashov Zhanibek,  Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Krzysztof Filipowicz, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland; Sándor F. Kovács and dr. Sándor Fazekas, Members of the National Assembly; Imre Hubai, President of the Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County Assembly; Máriusz Révész, Secretary of State for Active Hungary; Tibor Szepesi, Mayor of Karcag and General Director Károly Eisenkrammer cut the start ribbon.

The breakaway of the day was established relatively quickly, with Balázs Rózsa (Epronex Hungary), Viktor Filutás (Hungarian national team), Spain's Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel - Euskadi) and the Czech Martin Voltr (Pierre Baguette Cycling Team) making the break, with the lead peaking at around 3 minutes. Peter Sagan suffered a small crash at the start of the stage, but quickly rejoined the peloton.

Voltr took the first intermediate sprint in Tszafüred ahead of Rózsa and Filutás. The second one in Hajdúszoboszló was won by Filutás, but then the Pierre Baguette Cycling rider was left solo in front. With 20 kilometres to go, Bizkarra, Rózsa and Filutás were caught by the peloton, leaving the overall favourites fighting for the remaining bonus seconds. Defending champion Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) scored two and Lander Loockx (TDT - Unibet) one.

Voltr was finally caught by the peloton 13 kilometres from the finish, clearing the final hurdle for the sprint. Not everyone was lucky, however: Peter Sagan's race was marred by a puncture, while Harm Vanhoucke, the overall favourite, had a minor crash.

In the final metres, a heavy crash put Campbell Stewart (Jayco - AlUla) and Sebastian Kolze Changizi (Tudor) first to go down. The chaotic finish was won by Australian Sam Welsford (BORA-hansgrohe) ahead of two Italians, Samuel Quaranta (MBH Bank Colpack Ballan) and Jakub Mareczko (Corratec - Vini Fantini).

Welsford's victory came with a yellow and green jersey. Due to the lack of GPM's, the red jersey went to Voltr, who is currently second in the overall, while the white jersey went to Balázs Rózsa, who stands fifth.

Tour de Hongrie continues on 9 May with a 162-kilometre stage between Tokaj and Kazincbarcika.

45th Tour de Hongrie, Stage 1 (Karcag - Hajdúszoboszló, 166 km)

1. Sam Welsford (AUS, BORA-hansgrohe)
2. Samuel Quaranta (ITA, MBH Bank Colpack Ballan) +0:00
3. Jakub Mareczko (ITA, Corratec - Vini Fantini) +0:00
4. Nicklas Amdi Pedersen (DEN, TDT - Unibet) +0:00
5. Manuel Penalver (ESP, Polti - Kometa) +0:00
6. Mark Cavendish (GBR, Astana Qazaqstan Team) +0:00
7. Jon Aberasturi (ESP, Euskaltel - Euskadi) +0:00
8. Andrej Liska (SVK, Pierre Baguette) +0:00
9. Jarne van de paar (BEL, Lotto Dstny) +0:00
10. Tomas Kalojiros (CZE, Pierre Baguette) +0:00

General classification:

1. Sam Welsford (AUS, BORA-hansgrohe)
2. Martin Voltr (CZE, Pierre Baguette) +0:03
3. Samuel Quaranta (ITA, MBH Bank Colpack Ballan) +0:04
4. Jakub Mareczko (ITA, Corratec - Vini Fantini) +0:04
5. Rózsa Balázs (HUN, Epronex - Hungary) +0:06
6. Filutás Viktor (Hungary) +0:06
7. Marc Hirschi (SUI, UAE Team Emirates) +0:08
8. Lander Loockx (BEL, TDT - Unibet) +0:09
9. Nicklas Amdi Pedersen (DEN, TDT - Unibet) +0:10
10. Manuel Penalver (ESP, Polti - Kometa) +0:10

Leader of the points classification: Sam Welsford (AUS, BORA-hansgrohe)

Final results: HERE