Criterium Tour

Tour de Hongrie ranked as a 2.6 (by Union Cycliste Internationale – UCI) international race in 2004 and met its strict requirements: supervisor of UCI spoke of the race in high terms. Jean-Marie Leblanc, director of the Tour de France attended the last stages of tour: relationship between ASO (one of the biggest sport event organiser of the world, organising Tour de France and Dakar rally) and organiser of Tour de Hongrie has been fruitful.

Stage by stage

The 80th year-old Tour of Hungary follows the practices from last years: the race starts with a prologue in Queens’ town, Veszprém (West-Hungary). The route is almost the same as in 2004. Cyclists has to go through the historical downtown and through one of the symbols of the town, the Viaduct. The stage includes difficult phases with cobbles. Its aim is to introduce riders, and define the first cyclist, who should wear the yellow jearsey (for overall leader) during the first stage.

First stage is a circle in downtown of Balatonfüred, which allows the audience to see the the field several times. After this short, but spectacular stage, a real trial is going to come. On 3rd August the caravan crosses Lake Balaton by ferryboat, and starts second stage in Balatonföldvár. Cyclists arrives to Kecskemét after passing 169km.

Destination of the third stage is Békéscsaba, where riders are going to complete finishing laps. On 5th of August cyclists ride northward to Mezőkövesd.
Fifth stage is the hardest one: cyclists ride up to the highest peak in Hungary, Kékestető. In the afternoon on the same day a mountain time trial phase has to be completed.
Last day covers two stages: 70km from Vác to Dunakeszi, and a circle race in Budapest. The last stage is organised on streets of Budatest, where Tour de Hongrie started 80 years ago.

32st Tour de Hongrie
Hungary, August 1-7, 2005

The Stages
Prologue - August 2, 10.00:
Veszprém ITT, 4km
Stage 1 - August 2, 17.00:
Balatonfüred-Balatonfüred, 41km
Stage 2 - August 3, 13.30:
Balatonföldvár-Kecskemet, 169km
Stage 3 - August 4, 15.45:
Csongrád-Békéscsaba, 128km
Stage 4 - August 5, 10.00:
Szeghalom-Mezőkövesd, 150km
Stage 5 - August 6, 9.30:
Mezôkövesd-Kékestetô, 93km
Stage 6 - August 6, 15.00:
Mátraháza-Kékestető, ITT, 4km
Stage 7- August 7, 10.00:
Vác-Dunakeszi, 70km
Stage 8, August 8, 17.00:
Újbuda-Újbuda, 41km