The Tour of Armenia is ready to make its debut on the world cycling stage. Tomorrow at 12:55 local time (GMT+4, 10:55 in Italy) the first stage of the inaugural edition of the 2.2 race, which has been included in the UCI Europe Tour calendar this season, will start. The race departs from Gavar, the capital of the Gegharkunik region, and arrives in Mets Masrik, skirting Lake Sevan throughout the entire stage, one of the largest high-altitude bodies of water in the world and known as the "sea of Armenia". Just 450 meters of elevation gain with a possible sprint finish, but the peculiarity of pedaling on a plateau that never drops below 1900 meters for all 135 km planned can bring some surprises.

The teams have arrived in Yerevan in recent hours, one of the oldest cities in the world, and are preparing for this intense four-day event that will conclude in the capital on Sunday, September 13 with an exceptional ambassador like Beijing 2008 Olympian Samuel Sanchez presenting the winners.

Four jerseys, designed by Italian company Alé Cycling, to dress the leaders of their respective classifications, which recall the distinctive Armenian symbols. The rider who wins tomorrow's first stage will also wear the red jersey intended for the first in the general classification: the designs on the front recall the symbol of Armenian Eternity, while on the back there is a stylized map of the Caucasian country. The blue jersey, which will be up for grabs from Friday with the first mountain prizes, will characterize the best climber, representing Mount Aragats in the background, an extinct volcano and Armenia's highest peak at 4090 meters. For the points classification, instead, the orange jersey shines, with stylized waves that recall the speed of modern cycling. To the three jerseys that together honor the colors of the national flag, is added the traditional white jersey for best young rider, with typical tapestries on the front part representing the culture and identity of the country, while on the back is a stylized depiction of the suggestive Noravank Monastery, dating back to the 13th century.

In recent days, with a public event in downtown Yerevan, the charming mascot of the Tour of Armenia was unveiled, a deer dressed as a cyclist, complete with helmet. The event was also attended by Armenia's Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, who strongly wanted this race: "We have been working on this project for about two years. As surprising as it may seem, the idea was born from the major road infrastructure programs implemented by the Government. From these works, it became clear that our roads are in excellent condition and capable of hosting international cycling events. From here came the idea to take advantage of this opportunity to organize an international cycling race in Armenia. An event of this type creates solid foundations both for the development of cycling at the local level and for increasing the country's visibility globally".

An event that gives Armenia the opportunity to open its doors to the world, thanks also to the cooperation of multiple parties, as Andreasyan adds: "Having no prior experience in implementing projects of this magnitude, we needed the guidance of a reliable international organization with proven expertise like RCS, an international consulting company deeply involved in major cycling events like the Giro d'Italia, which visited our country and conducted preliminary inspections in various regions to advise us on the next steps to follow. Subsequently, the Tour of Armenia took shape and we submitted our candidacy to the UCI to include the race in their calendar. From the moment we received the gratifying affirmative response, we prepared with great responsibility".

On the 2026 route, the CEO of the local organizing company, Sports Management Center Khoren Zargaryan comments: "We have designed a balanced route to offer a varied experience for both cyclists and spectators, showcasing Armenia's great tourism heritage to the world. The grand finale in Yerevan then has a special meaning and charm". Specifically, he adds: "Tomorrow's stage, which will open the Tour, will be fast and will see the teams battling from the start. The second stage from Kirants to Stepanavan, instead, with its 2400 meters of elevation gain will play a key role for the general classification, as will the third, from Martuni to Lake Parz near Dilijan. On Saturday, in addition to working hard on the bike, the riders will pass through some of the most iconic scenery that I'm sure will leave television viewers around the world speechless. For Sunday's grand finale, we opted for a fast, dynamic circuit that is also very appealing to the public as well as to the riders. Arriving in the heart of Yerevan then has a special meaning".

RCS Sports and Events CEO and General Manager Paolo Bellino states: "Armenia is a country that in recent years has demonstrated strong attention and concrete commitment to cycling. The Tour of Armenia represents a further step in this journey and we are pleased to put our experience at the disposal to contribute to the success of an event that, already this week, is appearing on the international stage". And, thanks to cycling, it discovers new horizons: "The Giro d'Italia has always represented much more than a sporting competition: it is a tool capable of creating connections, bringing cultures closer together and strengthening relations between countries. The birth of this new sporting collaboration is concrete testimony to this. Last May, the Italian Government visited Yerevan on the occasion of the European Political Community summit, precisely during the days when the Giro d'Italia was being held. I am certain that the Tour of Armenia, starting Thursday, will be able to further strengthen, through the universal language of cycling, the excellent relations that already bind Italy and Armenia".

Attention not only for the present, but also for the future, as Minister Andreasyan emphasizes: "Our objective was not to organize an isolated event, but to make the Tour of Armenia a recurring race. Discussions with our partners have shown that the routes can change every year. While this year's edition crosses the regions of Gegharkunik, Kotayk, Tavush and Lori, future editions may include other regions and communities throughout Armenia. This flexibility allows us to demonstrate that we are talking about an entire road network that offers fantastic cycling routes. Thanks to the fact that the race images will be broadcast by international broadcasters, audiences around the world will discover that our country is excellent for sports tourism. Our roads, our landscapes, our historical culture and our great hospitality are the best calling card we can give".

The Tour of Armenia, in fact, will be broadcast to all latitudes by HBO Max, ESPN, Flo Sports, Okko, SBS and SPO TV and Zhibo TV. Ninety-six starters, coming from every corner of the world: Australia, Denmark, Eritrea, Japan, Great Britain, Italy, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, Portugal, just to name a few.

Among the sixteen teams at the start of the race there is also an Armenian-based team, a fundamental foundation for spreading cycling even more throughout all regions of the country and the president of the national cycling federation Ara Sadoyan comments satisfied: "A stage race included in the UCI international calendar will offer our young athletes the opportunity to experience professional cycling at home, to understand the level of competition and to familiarize themselves with the highest international standards. It will be a fantastic experience also for young cyclists who will come to watch the race. We want the Tour of Armenia to contribute to increasing interest in youth cycling and encourage a new generation of athletes to take up this sport".

All of Armenia is falling in love with cycling, as confirmed by Minister Andreasyan: "We have worked alongside all the municipalities touched by the route to ensure they were best prepared. This is not just a sports project, but an incredible showcase for our regions. The Armenia Tourism Committee has been involved at every stage of the process to represent our country through the cycling race. I am also convinced that our young people will be present in large numbers to attend the event also because for us sport is an essential component of physical education, or as we say in the Armenian language 'marmnakrtutyun', which means 'education of the body'. Modern education cannot exist without a balanced combination of intellectual, emotional and physical development".

Official website: https://tour-of-armenia.com/

in the attached pdf, the list of starters