1937

11th Tour de Hongrie

After another one-year break (due to the Olympics this time), the Tour (and the international riders) were back, but the organisers had to face new challenges.

The Hungarian Ministry of Interior denied the route permit for the stages around Lake Balaton because of "a higher interest of the state". The Hungarian cycling community came together to protest against the decision, which was withdrawn later. After the race went ahead, a scary accident occured in Keszthely, a local police car drove through the peloton - luckily, nobody got hurt, and everybody could continue.

Zoltán Karaki, who won the 3rd stage of the Tour

Despite the unfortunate circumstances, the race became an instant classic. Every stage ended with a new General Classification leader, until Austrian Anton Strakati won it by one second (!) ahead of Stanislaw Wasiliewski (National Team of Poland). The most renown rider who completed the 1035 km was also Polish: two-times Tour de Pologne winner Boleslaw Napierala triumphed in Keszthely (Stage 4).

Photo finish in Debrecen: István Liszkay (right) won ahead of later GC winner Anton Strakati

The peloton in Mezőberény

11th Tour de Hongrie (4-8 September 1937, 1035 km)

Stage winners:
Stage 1 (Budapest - Szeged, 160 km): Józef Ignaczak (Poland)
Stage 2 (Szeged - Debrecen, 223 km): István Liszkay (Hungary)
Stage 3 (Debrecen - Budapest, 232 km): Zoltán Karaki (Hungary)
Stage 4 (Budapest - Keszthely, 240 km): Boleslaw Napierala (Poland)
Stage 5 (Keszthely - Budapest, 180 km): Józef Ignaczak (Poland)

General Classification:
1. Anton Strakati (Austria) 33:45:23
2. Stanislaw Wasiliewski (Poland) 33:45:24 (+0:01)
3. Antal Szalay (Hungary) 33:45:28 (+0:05)

Winner of the Teams Classification: Hungary