Three WorldTeams join six ProTeams in Romanian stage race
Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) wins stage 2 in the Sibiu Tour(Image credit: Focus Photos Agency/Bora-Hansgrohe)
The Sibiu Cycling Tour benefitted from its ambitious 2020 edition as the first UCI 2.1-ranked stage race to take place after the coronavirus pandemic race stoppage, attracting WorldTour riders for the first time in its history. The Romanian event announced on Tuesday that three WorldTeams including Bora-Hansgrohe, the team of defending champion Gregor Mühlberger, intend to return to race again in 2021.
The race, which takes place from July 3 to July 6, will see Astana-Premier Tech and Qhubeka Assos take part for the first time along with the German WorldTeam and six ProTeams: Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè, Delko, Gazprom-RusVelo, Team Novo Nordisk and Vini Zabù along with 17 Continental outfits for a total of 27 teams.
The race will start with a technical prologue through the historic centre of Sibiu, followed by two mountaintop finishes in Păltiniș and Bâlea Lac before the sprinters get a chance to shine on the final day on a 226km circuit finishing in Sibiu.
Organisers are also hosting an ambitious new amateur event, if the pandemic conditions allow, where the public can race up the Transfăgărășan - the iconic twisting strip of tarmac that snakes its way from Bascov to the second highest paved section of road in Romania at over 2000 metres.
Despite it only attracting the top teams since 2020, the Sibiu Cycling Tour has several big names among its past winners, including Egan Bernal (2017), Ivan Sosa (2018) and Kevin Rivera (2019), who all claimed victory here while racing for Androni Giocattoli.
Also among the starters will be three North American squads - Wildlife Generation, with top Romanian rider Serghei Tvetcov, Team Illuminate, and the Canadian squad Yoeleo Test Team.
2021 Sibiu Tour stages
3 July: Prologue: Historic City Centre of Sibiu, 2.5 km
4 July: Stage 1: Sibiu - Păltiniș, 208.0 km
5 July: Stage 2: Sibiu - Bâlea Lac, 185.0 km
6 July: Stage 3: Sibiu - Mediaș - Sibiu, 226.0 km
Provisional list of participating teams
Astana-Premier Tech
Bora-Hansgrohe
Team Qhubeka Assos
Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
Bardiani CSF Faizane'
Delko
Gazprom-RusVelo
Team Novo Nordisk
Vini Zabu'
ABLOC CT
Amore e Vita
Bike Aid
Cycling Team Friuli ASD
Elkov - Kasper
Giotti Victoria - Savini Due
NIPPO-Provence-PTS Conti
Team Hrinkow Advarics Cycleang
Team Illuminate
Team Felbermayr - Simplon Wels
Team Novak
Team SKS Sauerland NRW
Team Vorarlberg
Topforex - ATT Investments Pro Cycling Team
Wildlife Generation Pro Cycling
Yoeleo Test Team p/b 4Mind
Work Service - Marchiol - Vega
National Team Romania
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.
