Turul României, Romania's most prestigious cycling competition and one of the most significant in Southeast Europe, is writing a new chapter in its history. The 58th edition of the Micii Bucle will kick off on September 9, marking a first in the competition’s history: for the first time since its establishment in 1934, the official start of the race will take place outside Romanian borders, in Chișinău, Moldova.

The event will begin on September 8 in the center of Chișinău, with a presentation of the teams and the opening ceremony for the 2026 Romanian Tour. The start of the first stage will be on September 9, with a route entirely within Moldova, ending in Ungheni. This stage marks a dual first in the competition’s history: not only is it starting in another country, but it is also entirely organized outside Romania.

“For the first time, the Romanian Tour will start in Chișinău, and this honors us and is very important for us. It shows how good the relations between Moldova and Romania are and that we can work together on beautiful projects. Besides promoting a healthy lifestyle, sport brings us closer, reminds us of the values we share, and helps build a relationship based on respect and trust,” Dan Perciun, Minister of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, said.

“I view with real joy and confidence the initiative of the Romanian Cycling Federation to transform the Romanian Tour into a truly transnational competition, with an official start in Moldova. The National Agency for Sport fully supports this endeavor, especially since the formalities were initiated as early as December through a solid institutional collaboration, designed to ensure an efficient and predictable organizational framework. I am convinced that this edition will be a reference one, beneficial for both countries, consolidating partnerships, bringing international visibility, and reaffirming the role of sport as a dialogue bridge, cooperation, and shared values,” Bogdan-Constantin Matei, President of the National Agency for Sport, stated at the competition's launch event.

Program and Route for the Romanian Tour 2026

The Romanian Tour proposes once again a route that captures the diversity and beauty of the regions traversed, from cities with strong cultural heritage to natural landscapes. Starting from Chișinău, the caravan will proceed to the Moldova region, passing through areas with spectacular landscapes and distinct towns, and the final will take place in Bucharest, bringing the competition to an urban emblematic setting.

  • September 8 - Team Presentation - Chișinău
  • September 9 - Stage 1 - Chișinău - Ungheni
  • September 10 - Stage 2 - Iași - Piatra Neamț
  • September 11 - Stage 3 - Piatra Neamț - Băile Balvanyos
  • September 12 - Stage 4 - Brașov - Ploiești
  • September 13 - Stage 5 - Circuit Bucharest

The Romanian Tour is taking a significant step towards a new level of organization and notoriety, with this year's edition representing a sports bridge between Romania and Moldova, an opportunity to promote the beauty and values of both countries, and to encourage cycling among a wider public. The organizers expressed gratitude to the Moldovan government for their openness, the Moldovan Cycling Federation, the National Agency for Sport in Romania, and Auchan Romania for their support of this project.

Brâncuși, a Source of Inspiration for the Trophy of This Year’s Edition

In the year marking 150 years since the birth of one of the most emblematic figures in modern universal art, the Romanian Tour pays homage to the great Romanian artist by creating a dedicated trophy inspired by Brâncuși’s works. The trophy will be crafted by sculptor Liviu Brezeanu, a local artist from Dâmbovița specializing in wooden sculpture, and will be presented to the winner of the Romanian Tour in the final stage at Bucharest.

Thousands of Children and Amateurs Expected at Mass Rides

The Romanian Tour will include this year’s competitions dedicated to children, aimed at supporting the formation of new generations of cyclists. These will take place in Iași, Piatra Neamț, Ploiești, and Bucharest. Additionally, competitions for amateurs will be organized in Ploiești and Bucharest, encouraging the practice of cycling and the adoption of an active lifestyle. The number of participants in these connected races has been increasing each year, with nearly 3,000 participants in 2025, mostly from the capital.

The competition was officially launched on Wednesday, April 22, at an event attended by nearly 200 guests, including representatives from central and local authorities, public institutions, embassies, commercial partners, sponsors, federations, and sports clubs, as well as personalities from the Romanian sports world.

The Romanian Tour 2026 is organized by the Romanian Cycling Federation, in partnership with the National Agency for Sport and Auchan Romania as the principal partner and co-organizer for seven years.

The complete program and full route of the Romanian Tour 2026 are available on www.turulromaniei.ro.

About the Romanian Tour

Inspired by the Tour de France, the publication "Revista Automobilă" organized the Circuito Muntenia in 1910, on the route from Bucharest to Sinaia to Târgoviște and back to Bucharest, but the competition was put on hold three years later due to World War I. In 1934, the newspaper "Sportul Zilnic" revived the idea, organizing the first national cycling competition - the Romanian Tour, also known as the "Mica Buclă." The competition has been featured in the calendar of the Union Cycliste Internationale since 2008 and has been organized in partnership with Auchan Romania since 2019. More information about the Romanian Tour 2026 can be found at www.turulromaniei.ro and on the official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tourofromaniaofficial.