• 2024-05-10
• Tour de Hongrie

Thibau Nys conquered Kékestető

The Lidl-Trek rider triumphed ahead of Diego Ulissi and Emanuel Buchmann to take the lead of the general classification.

At the start of the 183-kilometre mountain stage, Péter Szitka, Mayor of Kazincbarcika and patron of the stage; Orsolya Makkai and István Klimon, Deputy Mayors of Kazincbarcika; and Károly Eisenkrammer, chief organiser, cut the starting ribbon.

As expected, the leaders of the Mountains Classification, Christian Bagatin (MBH Bank Colpack Ballan) and Siebe Deweirdt (Flanders - Balosie) were on the move again. Balázs Rózsa (Epronex - Hungary), Manuel Penalver (Polti-Kometa), Michael Morkov (Astana Qazaqstan) and Yevgeniy Gidich (Astana Qazaqstan) joined the breakaway. The second category GPM in Matraháza was eventually won by Deweirdt, who retained the red jersey. After that, Kristian Sbaragli (Corratec - Vini Fantini) took his place in the breakaway.

The peloton was calm, with the biggest lead of the breakaway again peaking at three minutes. Penalver took all three intermediate sprints, catching up with points classification leader Martin Voltr (Pierre Baguette). In the yellow jersey, Voltr even attempted an attack with 11 kilometres to go, but then almost immediately dropped away from the peloton. Sbaragli was the last man standing in the breakaway, caught with 9 kilometres to go.

On the slopes of Kékestető, Tudor and UAE Team Emirates worked at the front. With 3.5 kilometres to go, BORA-hansgrohe took the lead. Emanuel Buchmann attacked with 1.5 kilometres to go, but like so many in recent years, he underestimated the steepness of the Kékes. The reigning German champion was caught in the last 100 metres and the stage was won by Belgian super-talent Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek) ahead of Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) and Buchmann. It was the former European U23 champion's second major win of the year - he won a Tour de Romandie stage in April.

Defending champion Marc Hirschi finished in 9th place, 19 seconds behind. The white jersey for the best Hungarian was awarded to Márton Dina, who finished 15th in the stage and holds the same position in the overall standings.

Tour de Hongrie 2024 continues on 11 May with a hilly 167-kilometre stage between Budapest and Etyek.

45th Tour de Hongrie, Stage 3 (Kazincbarcika - Gyöngyös-Kékestető, 183 km)

1. Thibau Nys (BEL, Lidl-Trek) 4:31:52
2. Diego Ulissi (ITA, UAE Team Emirates) +0:00
3. Emanuel Buchmann (GER, BORA-hansgrohe) +0:00
4. Yannis Voisard (SUI, Tudor Pro Cycling) +0:04
5. Wouter Poels (NED, Bahrain Victorious) +0:09
6. Harm Vanhoucke (BEL, Lotto Dstny) +0:11
7. Callum Scotson (AUS, Jayco AlUla) +0:11
8. Oscar Rodriguez (ESP, INEOS Grenadiers) +0:17
9. Marc Hirschi (SUI, UAE Team Emirates) +0:19
10. Damien Howson (AUS, Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) +0:26

General classification:

1. Thibau Nys (BEL, Lidl-Trek) 4:31:52
2. Diego Ulissi (ITA, UAE Team Emirates) +0:04
3. Emanuel Buchmann (GER, BORA-hansgrohe) +0:06
4. Yannis Voisard (SUI, Tudor Pro Cycling) +0:14
5. Wouter Poels (NED, Bahrain Victorious) +0:18
6. Harm Vanhoucke (BEL, Lotto Dstny) +0:21
7. Callum Scotson (AUS, Jayco AlUla) +0:21
8. Oscar Rodriguez (ESP, INEOS Grenadiers) +0:27
9. Marc Hirschi (SUI, UAE Team Emirates) +0:27
10. Damien Howson (AUS, Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) +0:29

Leader of the Points Classification: Martin Voltr (CZE, Pierre Baguette) 

Leader of the Mountains Classification: Siebe Deweirdt (BEL, Flanders - Baloise) 

Best Hungarian Rider in the General Classification: 15. Márton Dina (Hungary)

Official results: HERE