In 2022, the Giro d’Italia started from Hungary, and the BalatonFondo pays tribute to that momentous occasion. The race followed the exact route of Stage 3 from 2022. Riders competed under full road closures and enjoyed the kind of safety measures typically reserved for only the top-tier races in Hungary. Even Attila Valter took to the start line to promote the sport of cycling. Although he only participated in the start and didn’t actually race, he returned for the podium ceremony to hand out the awards.
This event was not only a race but also a celebration of the sport, with 1,300 cyclists joining the ranks alongside some big names in the world of cycling.
A month before the race, a course preview was held, where 60 riders were invited, including myself. The route featured three King of the Mountain sprints, and I managed to win two of them, finishing third in the last one. This performance secured me the win in this internal competition, ahead of my coach, Szilárd Buruczki, who was previously the coach of Attila Valter as well.
I was really looking forward to this race. I’d prepared well, I was in great shape, knew the course inside out, and since I was in a younger age group, I got to race the shorter distance—though I’d already tackled the longer one before. I had a feeling things could really come together for me here.
I got off to a good start, everything was going perfectly. But about halfway through the race, during a climb, my chain dropped when I downshifted. No matter how much I tried to coax it back with the derailleur, it wouldn’t go back in place. I had to stop and spent about a minute wrestling with the jammed links before I could get back on the bike. By then, the main bunch had already gone, and I was dropped, stuck in no man’s land. I had to ride on without any drafting, pushing hard on my own. Meanwhile, the group was working together and moving fast.
I never managed to catch up with them, but I did finish 3rd in my category, so I still made it to the podium.
I was really frustrated with the chain problem when I crossed the finish line, and I couldn’t quite hide my disappointment. I had expected better and was really looking forward to a win.
It was a great honor to receive the award from Attila Valter, and it was quite a special prize—a chain link, fittingly enough.
Despite the frustration, it was still a moment of joy. Little did I know that less than a week later, I’d be celebrating the first win of my life.
