May 11, 2022
Tour of Hungary 2022 – Stage 1 – Csákvár – Székesfehérvár : 197,5 km
With its first edition taking place way back in 1925, the Tour de Hongrie is one of the oldest stage races on the international cycling calendar. Despite being one of the oldest, the Tour de Hongrie has only held 42 editions throughout its 96-year history, largely due to the political changes that occurred in the country following the end of World War II. The race did return for a short period in the 90s and 2000s after a long 30-year hiatus, but it wasn’t until 2015 that it really established itself again and adopted the format that we’ve come to know it for today. With several rolling stages through the Hungarian countryside to negotiate as well, this is a race that really suits the strong rouleurs and all-rounders.
Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) took out the opening stage of the Tour de Hongrie, holding off a fast-charging Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers) in Szekesfehervar.
The 20-year-old latched onto the lead-out train of Trek-Segafredo’s Matteo Moschetti, and jumped off the wheel at the same time but had a much more powerful kick than Moschetti.
Viviani and Matthew Walls (Bora-Hansgrohe) nearly came together in the dive for Kooij’s wheel, with the latter having to skip a pedal stroke and settle for third.
The stage win gives Kooij the leader’s jersey of the five-stage UCI 2.1-ranked stage race.
Results :