In 2024, the spotlight was on the first two elite world road race champions in the history of Tour de Hongrie, but the most outstanding performance of the race came from a young Belgian talent.
Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish at their Press Conference after the Team Presentation in Hajdúszoboszló
Tour de Hongrie 2024 will be remembered for the participation of two superstars of our sport. Although Peter Sagan retired at the highest level in 2023, in preparation for the Olympics, he decided to ride smaller races in the Continental Team of his brother, Juraj. Sagan underwent two heart surgeries in the spring and ultimately failed to qualify for the Games in mountain bike, but he did compete in Hungary. Wearing the jersey of Pierre Baguette, the three-time World Champion took a domestique role, helping his teammates in the race. The Slovak was the centre of huge attention from the media and the Hungarian fans – midway through Stage 3, he even dedicated his book to a local supporter.
Cavendish celebrates his stage win in Kazincbarcika
34-time Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish was looking for his record-breaking 35th French victory, so he and his team decided to test his legs in Hungary. Astana Qazaqstan Team even brought his best leadout riders with him, including Michael Morkov and Cees Bol. In Stage 2, he took an impressive victory, beating two-time Tour de Hongrie and five-time Tour de France stage winner Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla) on the line. Eventually, both Cav and Groenewegen won a stage at the Tour de France, making the Brit the most successful sprinter in Tour de France history.
The official start of Tour de Hongrie 2024 in Karcag
Cavendish was not the only well-known stage winner of our race. In Hajdúszoboszló, a chaotic sprint decided the fate of Stage 1, where Campbell Stewart and Sebastian Kolze Changizi were involved in a horrific crash. Fortunately, none of them were seriously injured. Australian Sam Welsford took advantage of the chaos, won the stage, and took the first yellow jersey of the race.
One of the biggest surprises of the race: Czech Martin Voltr (Pierre Baguette) took the GC lead after Stage 2
Welsford could have had Cavendish in his sights the next day, but Dylan Groenewegen pushed him to the kerb in the final corner. The Dutchman was penalised following the incident. Thanks to that, a breakaway rider, Czech Martin Voltr (Pierre Baguette) took the lead of the general classification.
Thibau Nys beat Marc Hirschi in Etyek, taking his 2nd stage victory in a row
Stage 3 was the queen stage of the race, finishing on the top of Hungary’s highest mountain, the legendary Kékestető. There were some decent climbers in the peloton, including German champion Emanuel Buchmann (BORA – hansgrohe), Liége-Bastogne-Liége winner Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious) and reigning Tour de Hongrie champion Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates), but neither of them triumphed. Buchmann attacked with more than one kilometre to go, but got caught and lost the sprint on the line against Thibau Nys.
U23 Road Race European Champion and Cylco-Cross World Champion Nys was well-known to have a great sprint with a strong punch on short hills, but it became clear in Hungary, that he’s a decent climber as well. He continued to shine through the race: winning an uphill sprint in Etyek as the clear favourite of Stage 4, then keeping up with the best climbers in Pécs and retaining the yellow jersey. Wout Poels won the last stage and took the final spot of the GC podium, while Buchmann finished 2nd overall. Nys also won the Points Classification, while his compatriot, Siebe Deweirdt (Flanders – Baloise) won the Mountains Classification. The best Hungarian rider, Márton Dina, finished 13th in GC, taking the White Jersey for a record-breaking fourth time in his career.
The final podium of Tour de Hongrie 2024 (from the left): Emanuel Buchmann (BORA - hansgrohe), Thibau Nys (Lidl - Trek) and Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious)
45th Tour de Hongrie (8-12 May 2024, 851 km)
Stage winners:
Stage 1 (Karcag – Hajdúszoboszló, 166 km): Sam Welsford (Australian, BORA - hansgrohe) – in yellow: Welsford
Stage 2 (Tokaj – Kazincbarcika, 162 km): Mark Cavendish (British, Astana Qazaqstan Team) – in yellow: Martin Voltr (Czech, Pierre Baguette)
Stage 3 (Kazincbarcika – Gyöngyös-Kékestető, 183 km): Thibau Nys (Belgian, Lidl – Trek) – in yellow: Nys
Stage 4 (Budapest – Etyek, 167 km): Thibau Nys (Belgian, Lidl – Trek) – in yellow: Nys
Stage 5 (Siófok – Pécs, 173 km): Wout Poels (Dutch, Bahrain Victorious)
General Classification:
Winner of the Points Classification: Thibau Nys (Belgian, Lidl – Trek)
Winner of the Mountains Classification: Siebe Deweirdt (Belgian, Flanders – Baloise)
Best Hungarian rider in the General Classification:
13th (in white) Márton Dina (Hungary)>
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