START of Registration for L’Étape Romania by Tour de France, 2024 Edition
Bucharest, June 5, 2024: L’Étape Romania by Tour de France presented by Decathlon, now in its third edition, will take place on September 1 in Bucharest. The Race Village in Constitution Square will be open to both participants and spectators. Registration for the third edition is now officially open (https://romania.letapebytourdefrance.com/registration), with a limited number of spots available. Registration for people with disabilities is free of charge.
The Tour de France is the most famous cycling race in the world, passionately followed each year by over two billion fans worldwide. The legendary sporting event began in 1903, and the L’Étape by Tour de France concept was born in 1993, giving amateur cyclists a chance to experience this unique event. Romania joined L’Étape by Tour de France in 2022, becoming the 20th country to be included in this series of international events.
L’Étape Romania by Tour de France presented by Decathlon is the only competition in Romania that offers the thrill of a world-class race, open to all cyclists, from families with children aged 8 and up to performance cyclists. The event is also open to MTB enthusiasts, with children receiving a 20% discount. Performance cyclists taking on the challenge will benefit from a dedicated ranking. Additionally, registration for people with disabilities is free.
“We invite you to experience a unique event, a true cycling festival, and the most important cycling event in Romania. You have the opportunity to feel the emotion and challenge typical of the great champions of the Tour de France, enjoy the spectacular routes and the festive atmosphere, in the heart of the Capital. We thank all the authorities and sponsors who support us in making this special project a reality and contribute to building the story of L’Étape Romania by Tour de France,” says Tudor Ștefan MOCUȚA, CEO of MPG Romania, the event organizer.
The routes, starting from Constitution Square, on Unirii Boulevard, will traverse major thoroughfares such as Calea Victoriei, Kiseleff Boulevard, and Liberty Boulevard, featuring historical and significant landmarks like the Arch of Triumph, the Parliament Palace, the C.E.C. Palace, the imposing Bucharest City Hall building, the Army House, and the Romanian Athenaeum.
The three event routes are: • City Adventure 14 KM – https://romania.letapebytourdefrance.com/route/2 – open to participants aged 8 and over • The Ride 42 KM – https://romania.letapebytourdefrance.com/route/1 – open to participants aged 15 and over • The Race 85 KM – https://romania.letapebytourdefrance.com/route/0 – open to participants aged 15 and over
The early bird participation fee, valid until the end of June 19, is 165 lei for City Adventure 14 km, 190 lei for The Ride 42 km, and 200 lei for The Race 85 km.
The Race Village at L’Étape Romania by Tour de France presented by Decathlon in Constitution Square will tell the story of the legendary brand through a Tour de France exhibition and numerous sponsor activations, in a relaxed festival atmosphere, transforming Bucharest into the capital of Romanian cycling for a day. There will also be a sports-themed commercial area with major sports equipment and nutrition brands, a food court, a warming-up zone for competitors, mechanical assistance for cyclists, a massage area, a prize-giving stage, and numerous contests with prizes from event sponsors.
On Saturday, August 31, participation kits will be picked up from Constitution Square, and on Sunday, September 1, the three races will start. The famous yellow jersey, awarded to winners as a symbol of victory, excellence, passion, and determination, will become the great challenge for participating cyclists. The top three amateur cyclists in The Race 85 km, both male and female, will qualify for the international L’Étape Championship program and receive an invitation to participate in the famous L’Étape du Tour in France, the most renowned amateur cycling competition in the world.
“On September 1, Bucharest will host the third edition of L’Étape Romania by Tour de France. Since 2022, cycling enthusiasts in Romania have had the incredible chance to experience a once-in-a-lifetime event, in the same conditions as the Tour de France. Completely closed roads, technical support, spectator and fan support throughout the race… everything that makes you feel like a professional cyclist!
After two successful editions, L’Étape Romania is now one of the largest events in the region and, undoubtedly, a race not to be missed by every passionate cyclist, whether a professional competitor or a beginner. I am convinced that the 2024 edition will be a success, with even more participants and a more energizing atmosphere. Good luck to everyone in preparing for the race and see you at the start on September 1!” said Antoine QUIERS, Project Manager of the L’Étape by Tour de France event series – AMAURY SPORT ORGANISATION (A.S.O).
Many top companies in Romania have joined the world’s strongest cycling brand. Presenting Partner is Decathlon, and the Official Sponsor is Skoda, joined by sponsors Dorna and RTPR. The event’s official suppliers are: Powerbar, URSUS, Paste Băneasa, Lindab, Reciclad’Or, Remat Holding, Agriro Fresh, ESX, Black Cab, Therapy for movement, JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Torockoi, Gramofon. Event partners are: Bucharest City Hall, Maya Textil, CPI Security, Drovie, MTB Academy, Bălașa Percussion, and VESTA.
Decathlon supports this event for the third consecutive year. This year, in addition to sponsoring the participation kit jerseys, Decathlon will have a stand with accessories for cyclists and a last-minute adjustment workshop. Decathlon, known for its mission to make sports accessible to all, continues to promote an active and healthy lifestyle by supporting prestigious sports events.
“We are proud to contribute to this landmark event in Romanian cycling and to offer support to the cycling community. We believe we have the power to move the world through the wonders of sport, and our participation in L’Étape Romania reflects this commitment,” said Vicențiu GROSU, Event Leader Decathlon Romania.
Institutional partners supporting the event are the French Embassy and the Romanian Cycling Federation. The event’s complex logistics are implemented in partnership with MTB Academy. Europa FM supports the event as the Main Media Partner, joined by Revista BIZ, Revista CARIERE, Ziarul Bursa, KLARMEDIA – Press Monitoring Partner, GabrielSolomon.ro, RIDERSCLUB.ro, SPORTYA.net, and Biciclistul.ro.
We are excited to announce that we actively support the CLOVES Romania Foundation through the L’Étape Romania by Tour de France event. Children with CLOVES syndrome face multiple health issues, including excessive growth of fatty tissues, vascular anomalies, and skeletal abnormalities. Treating and managing this condition requires significant resources and ongoing support throughout life. Through this initiative, we aim to raise awareness of the challenges faced by children in the CLOVES community and invite you to support them through donations at https://www.sindromulcloves.ro/.
L’Étape Romania by Tour de France presented by Decathlon is organized by MPG Romania, a market leader in sports projects for amateur participants, with significant experience, having organized over 9,000 sports events over 27 years of activity. The L’Étape by Tour de France event concept belongs to AMAURY SPORT ORGANISATION (A.S.O), France, the world leader in organizing cycling races and owner of the legendary Tour de France brand.
More details about the global series of events and the local competition can be found on the official website romania.letapebytourdefrance.com, and those wishing to enter the race can register in the REGISTRATION section. Up-to-date information can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letaperomania and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letaperomania/.
About A.S.O Thanks to the prestigious Tour de France competition, one of the most popular international sporting events in the world, prestigious classics such as Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Flèche Wallonne, and Paris-Tours, as well as stage races such as Paris-Nice, Critérium du Dauphiné, and Vuelta a España, A.S.O is the world leader in organizing cycling races, with 100 days of competition each year. The globalization of cycling is one of its major development areas. With the Saudi Tour, the Deutschland Tour, and the organization of the Arctic Race of Norway, A.S.O continues to energetically contribute to the growth of cycling as an example of sustainable transport for city centers.
About L’Étape by Tour de France L’Étape by Tour de France is the world leader in mass participation cycling events, with events held in over 25 countries and more than 30 global events. L’Étape by Tour de France offers amateur cyclists the opportunity to compete or experience a stage of the Tour de France right at home. The Tour de France is the most recognized annual sporting event in the world and is a premium brand for cycling.
About MPG Romania Founded in 1997, MPG Romania is a market leader and trendsetter in sports marketing and event management, with the largest portfolio of amateur sports properties in Romania. The agency coordinates over 1,000 sports events per year, combining specialized know-how with unrivaled implementation, offering experiences that bring joy to people and personalized solutions for local and global brands.
More details about MPG Romania can be found at: www.mpg.com.ro.
Media Contact: Andrei Bîndar – Free Communication
(+40) 757 038 786
