Skip to main content

Cyclingnews The World Centre of Cycling

Sign in

View Profile
Sign out

Search

Search Cyclingnews

News
- Racing News
Racing
- Races
  - Results
  - Live Reports
  - Calendar
  - Road
  - Gravel
  - MTB
  - Track
  - Cyclo-cross
- Teams & Riders
- How to Watch
- Rules
Women's Cycling
Premium
- Labs
- In-Depth Racing
- Tech Galleries
- Columns
- Industry
- Investigations
- Performance
- Training
- Finance
- Health
Tech
- Bikes
- Cycling Kit & Accessories
- Components
Buying Advice
Features
- Live Reports
- Quizzes
- Cycling Culture
- Forums
- Autobus
- About

Home
News
- View News
- Racing News
Racing
- View Racing
- Races
  - View Races
  - Results
  - Live Reports
  - Calendar
  - Road
  - Gravel
  - MTB
  - Track
  - Cyclo-cross
- Teams & Riders
- How to Watch
- Rules
  - View Rules
  - Safety
  - Doping
  - Motor Doping
Women's Cycling
Premium
- View Premium
- Labs
- In-Depth Racing
- Tech Galleries
- Columns
- Industry
- Investigations
- Performance
- Training
- Finance
- Health
Tech
Buying Advice
Features
- Live Reports
- Quizzes
- Cycling Culture
- Forums
- Autobus
- About

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful

An account already exists for this email address, please log in.

Trending

Got a Labs question?
Giro d'Italia Women 2027
Giro d'Italia 2027
Transfers
Subscribe from $1

Pro Cycling
Teams & Riders

Popkov solos to stage 1 win

By Laszlo Szilasi

Published 8 August 2009

Nasty weather splits up peloton early

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email

Share this article

Join the conversation

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Subscribe to our newsletter

Image 1 of 11

(Image credit: Laszlo Szilasi)

(Image credit: Laszlo Szilasi)

(Image credit: Laszlo Szilasi)

(Image credit: Laszlo Szilasi)

(Image credit: Laszlo Szilasi)

(Image credit: Laszlo Szilasi)

(Image credit: Laszlo Szilasi)

(Image credit: Laszlo Szilasi)

(Image credit: Laszlo Szilasi)

(Image credit: Laszlo Szilasi)

(Image credit: Laszlo Szilasi)

Image 1 of 11

View Original

Image 2 of 11

View Original

Image 3 of 11

View Original

Image 4 of 11

View Original

Image 5 of 11

View Original

Image 6 of 11

View Original

Image 7 of 11

View Original

Image 8 of 11

View Original

Image 9 of 11

View Original

Image 10 of 11

View Original

Image 11 of 11

View Original

The 3rd Tour of Szeklerland (UCI 2.2) started on Friday (7th of August) with its queen stage, a 192 km long hilly run, with four categorised climbs in the most beautiful regions of Szeklerland. 127 riders took the start from Csíkszereda in pouring rain and cold temperatures.

Right after the start the peloton split apart and a 9-man group formed, including the Hungarian champion István Cziráki (Betonexpressz 2000 –Limonta), former Tour de France competitor, Aurelian Passeron (Tusnad Cycling Team), Luka Rakusa (Motomat Delo Revije), Tomas Okrouhlicky and Ondrej Zelinka (both AC Sparta Praha), and Ukranian Vitalij Popkov (ISD-Donyeck).

The peloton never reached the front group again, whom shared the worked until the 30 k to go banner, where Popkov attacked his compatriots. As the Ukranian powered to the stage win, the cheasers of 8 was divided in 2 groups on the day's last climb, 16 k from the finish.

Latest Videos FromCyclingnews

Watch full video here:

At the end Popkov won the stage with 1 minute margin ahead of the others, Cziráki took second, and Rakusa arrived in third place.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Results
1	Vitalij Popkov (Ukr) ISD Sports Donyeck
2	Cziráki István (Hun) Betonexpressz 2000-Limonta
3	Luka Rakusa (Slo) Motomat Delo Revije

Swipe to scroll horizontally

General classification after stage 1
1	Vitalij Popkov (Ukr) ISD Sports Donyeck
2	Luka Rakusa (Slo) Motomat Delo Revije
3	Cziráki István (Hun) Betonexpressz 2000-Limonta

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

TOPICS

Latest in Teams & Riders

ZEDDAM, NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 08: Cameron Mason of Great Britain competes during the 24th UEC European Cyclo-cross Championships 2026, Elite Men on November 08, 2026 in Zeddam, Netherlands. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)

Teams & Riders Fastest lap is not enough to overcome a slow start for Cameron Mason sixth at UEC European Cyclo-cross Championships

Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) talks to the media on the eve of Singapore Criterium

Teams & Riders ‘Why not?’ - Isaac Del Toro on a Mexican rider winning Tour de France in the future

Women's Cycling 'This one feels different' - Lucinda Brand on winning European cyclo-cross title after rival was relegated

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JULY 04: (L-R) Warren Barguil of France and Julius van den Berg of Netherlands and Team Picnic PostNL compete during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 1 a 19.6km team time trial stage from Barcelona to Barcelona / #UCIWT / on July 04, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Teams & Riders 'A one-sided story has been told' - Picnic PostNL team owner Iwan Spekenbrink responds to allegations of 'culture of fear' within team

Rune Herregodts of Belgium and UAE Team Emirates - XRG competes passing the Muur - Muur van Geraardsbergen during the 21st Renewi Tour 2026, Stage 3

Transfers Belgian champion leaves UAE Team Emirates-XRG for three-year deal with Movistar

Tesson celebrating with a group of people and three children wearing TotalEnergies jerseys

Teams & Riders TotalEnergies team survives as new three-year sponsor announcement imminent

Latest in Race Results

Belgian Thibau Nys pictured as he crosses the finish line of the men's elite race of the UEC cyclocross European Championships (06-07/08), Sunday 8 November 2026 in Zeddam, Netherlands. BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS (Photo by DAVID PINTENS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)

Racing European Cyclo-cross Championships: Thibau Nys wins second elite title as Belgium sweeps the podium

Eric Brunner (Competitive Edge Racing) swept the Cycle-Smart Northampton Cyclocross races

Racing Pan-Am Cyclo-cross Championships: Eric Brunner solos to fifth elite men’s title in Washington, DC

HULST, NETHERLANDS - FEBRUARY 01: Alyssa Sarkisov of United States competes during the 77th UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships 2026 - Women's U23 / #UCIWWT / on February 01, 2026 in Hulst, Netherlands. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)

Women's Cycling Pan-Am Cyclo-cross Championships: Alyssa Sarkisov powers away on penultimate lap to win elite women’s title

Rochester Cyclocross 2026 day 1 Manon Bakker and Miles Mattern take victory

Racing Pan-Am Cyclo-cross Championships: Miles Mattern and Ada Watson win U23 men and women titles in Washington, DC

2025 Vermont ECA camp participant Noah Scholnick bunny-hops a barrier with Coach Andrew Strohmeyer looking on

Racing Pan-Am Cyclo-cross Championships: USA's Noah Scholnick and Lilliana O'Donnell win junior titles in Washington, DC

ZEDDAM, NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 07: Aubin Sparfel of France (C) celebrates at finish line as race winner ahead of Giel Lejeune of Belgium (L) and Viktor Vandenberghe of Belgium (R) during the 24th UEC European Cyclo-cross Championships 2026, Men Under 23 on November 07, 2026 in Zeddam, Netherlands. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)

Racing European Cyclo-cross Championships: French domination in the Under 23 category as Aubin Sparfel and Célia Gery seal the titles

Latest on Cyclingnews

Fastest lap is not enough to overcome a slow start for Cameron Mason sixth at UEC European Cyclo-cross Championships

British champion ‘didn’t stop believing until one lap to go’
‘Why not?’ - Isaac Del Toro on a Mexican rider winning Tour de France in the future

After a remarkable 2026 campaign that included Tour de France podium, UAE rider looks back on his rapid rise and growing leadership role
Commissaire who relegated Marie Schreiber at the European Cyclo-cross Championships has a history with her SD Worx-Protime team

SD Worx coach Sanne Cant describes decision as 'ridiculous’
European Cyclo-cross Championships: Thibau Nys wins second elite title as Belgium sweeps the podium

Joran Wyseure is second and Niels Vandeputte takes third in Zeggam

Cyclingnews is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google

Terms and conditions
Contact Future's Experts
Privacy policy
Cookies Policy
Accessibility statement
Careers
Advertise with us

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...