The 2026 Tour of Romania was officially presented at the Government House in Chișinău on May 25, under the patronage and with the participation of the Government of the Republic of Moldova. The event brought together two ministers, four district presidents and vice presidents, four mayors, and numerous other representatives of the Moldovan Government and public administration, as well as the Cycling Federation and the Olympic Committee of the Republic of Moldova.
Romania was represented by the Romanian Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, the President of the National Agency for Sport, the leadership of the Romanian Cycling Federation, and members of the board of Auchan Romania, the co-organizing partner of the Tour of Romania. The occasion confirmed the symbolic importance of this edition: for the first time in the history of the competition, the official start will take place outside Romania’s borders.
The 58th edition of the “Little Loop” will begin on September 8, 2026, in Chișinău, with the team presentation ceremony held in the square of the Maria Bieșu National Opera and Ballet Theatre. The following day, on September 9, the race caravan will cover its first route entirely on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, starting in Chișinău and finishing in Ungheni at Independence Square.
Representatives of both countries attending the press conference at the Government House in Chișinău unanimously emphasized the historic importance of this edition. From ministers and diplomats to sports leaders and private-sector partners, all highlighted that the start of the Tour of Romania from the Republic of Moldova is not only a sporting premiere, but also a symbol of the bond between the two countries. Moldovan officials expressed their pride in hosting the event and committed to mobilizing resources for its promotion, while Romanian representatives praised the openness and spirit of cooperation with which the Republic of Moldova embraced this joint project. The conclusion was the same on both sides of the Prut River: Tour of Romania 2026 is a moment worth celebrating and making the most of.
“For us, it is both an honor and a joy to be part of this project. We simply could not refuse to be involved in an event of such magnitude,” said Dan Perciun, Minister of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova.
Bogdan-Constantin Matei, President of the National Agency for Sport, stated: “Competitions that unite two countries with such rich history and tradition can serve as an example of what unity through sport truly means. Today, we once again demonstrate that Romania and Moldova are building lasting bridges, and the Tour of Romania is one of those bridges we are inaugurating today.”
“We are proud and extremely happy that the Tour starts from Chișinău. It is an opportunity for us to promote this sport. We will do everything possible to promote the competition as much as we can, because it is a moment of inspiration both for children and adults,” said Deonisii Codreanu, President of the Cycling Federation of the Republic of Moldova.
“Today, I had the pleasure of attending the launch event of Tour of Romania 2026 on the Bessarabian side of the Prut, in Chișinău. We are not being formal — we are trying to act as a true team, because that is what the Tour of Romania is really about. This is how a race is built: not only with teams at the starting line, but also through teamwork behind the scenes,” said Cătălin Sprînceană, President of the Romanian Cycling Federation.
“We simply thank the Government of Moldova for an extraordinary welcome! It is a great joy to create, for the first time, a cycling union between these two sister countries. It is an important moment through which we will discover the defining elements of each region crossed — from gastronomy and local production to history. A rare opportunity to celebrate what we truly are: one great Romanian family,” said Tiberiu Dănețiu, Director of Corporate Affairs at Auchan Romania.
Tour of Romania 2026 Schedule
- 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 – Bucharest Circuit
Tour of Romania 2026 is organized by the Romanian Cycling Federation, together with the National Agency for Sport and Auchan Romania, which has been the main partner and co-organizer since 2019.
