It belongs to Barnabás Vas (Team United Shipping) the queen stage of the Tour of Romania 2026. The Hungarian indeed claimed the Piatra Neamț-Băile Balvanyos of 198.4 kilometers with 1932 meters of elevation gain, beating in the sprint Enea Sambinello (Italy) and András Gusztáv Pakot (Team United Shipping) who, on the final straight, could do nothing against the explosiveness of the class of 2006.

THE RACE

Characterized in the first part by the four-man breakaway of Matthew Walls (APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery), Catalin Buta (MENtoRISE Teem CCN), Vincent John (Schwingshandl Intralogistics) and Andrea Alfio Bruno (Italy), the stage reopened 69 kilometers from the finish when the group behind closed on the leaders, recompacting the situation.

After crossing the Oituz climb, the stage proceeded at a fast pace without registering any noteworthy action until 25 kilometers from the finish when, taking advantage of a very exposed area beaten by strong crosswind, eleven men at the front of the peloton (including Italians Enea Sambinello, Nicolas Milesi and Roberto Capello) managed to open a gap. The group traveled in good agreement until 15 kilometers from the conclusion when, with the chasers now on their heels, Milesi and Musialik attacked as a pair.

This action allowed the two to gain up to 30 seconds of margin before, behind them, the peloton got down to business and went to close on them 700 meters from the entrance to the unprecedented uphill finish. On the easy slopes of the latter (3.5 kilometers at 4.5% average gradient), it is Italy that takes control of operations, making the selection that brings just under twenty men to sprint for the victory which, in the end, is conquered by the green jersey Vas ahead of Sambinello and the white jersey Pakot.

The latter, thanks to the four-second time bonus, rises to the top of the general classification with a two-second margin over the Bologna native and the Irishman O'Connor (APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery) who tomorrow, in the Brașov-Ploiești stage of 165.2 kilometers (a stage with a finish for the sprinters), will be able to take advantage of the intermediate sprints, and the relative time bonuses, along the route to threaten his leadership.

ORDER OF ARRIVAL

1. Barnabás Vas (Team United Shipping) 4:26:54

2. Enea Sambinello (Italy) s.t.

3. András Gusztáv Pakot (Team United Shipping) s.t.

4. Mattew-Denis Piciu (MENtoRISE Teem CCN) s.t.

5. Tord Wikander (NCF Region Vest) s.t.

6. Jaume Barceló (UC Monaco) s.t.

7. Kevin Andrés Estupiñán (UC Monaco) s.t.

8. Mykhailo Basaraba (UC Monaco) s.t.

9. Luca Fraticelli (Vega - Vitalcare - Dynatek) s.t.

10. Luca Bagnara (Vega - Vitalcare - Dynatek) s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. András Gusztáv Pakot (Team United Shipping) 11:29:40

2. Enea Sambinello (Italy) +0:02

3. Ronan O'Connor (APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery) +0:02

4. Mykhailo Basaraba (UC Monaco) +0:08

5. Luca Fraticelli (Vega - Vitalcare - Dynatek) +0:08

6. Cristian Raileanu (Romania) +0:13

7. Rutger Wouters (K.O.F.M. x Thielemans - Bildin - Van Eyck Sport Cycling Team) +0:18

8. Barnabás Vas (Team United Shipping) +0:20

9. Jaume Barceló (MENtoRISE Teem CCN) +0:27

10. Iustin-Ioan Văidian (UC Monaco) +0:30

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points classification: Rutger Wouters (K.O.F.M. x Thielemans - Bildin - Van Eyck Sport Cycling Team)

Mountain classification: Barnabas Vas (Team United Shipping)

Best young rider classification: András Gusztáv Pakot (Team United Shipping)

Photo credit: Tour of Romania