We thank all sponsors, partners and participants for the festival atmosphere, enthusiasm, joy and emotion created at the second edition of L'Étape Romania by Tour de France.

Impressions from Sponsors, Partners, and Participants

Tiberiu Dănețiu, Marketing Director of Auchan Romania
"We are very pleased to see how the number of cycling enthusiasts is increasing year by year, both among adults and children. We are delighted to be part of this beautiful community and to strengthen Auchan's mission to support an active and healthy lifestyle through both sports and nutrition. Congratulations to all participants and organizers."

Mihaela Mustață, Altex Romania
"I really liked the atmosphere here; I saw people of all ages, including participants of all ages. At Altex, we support an active lifestyle, which is why we are partners. I'm glad that a world-class event has come to Romania, and in a way, we are putting Romania on the map for major events. I see people who are not participants but are curious to come and watch others. I'm happy to see this growing interest in cycling and everything related to sports and an active lifestyle."

Costin Tărăcilă, Managing Partner at RTPR
"We are delighted to have been partners of the L'Étape Romania by Tour de France event again this year, as well as competitors. We participated with a team of over 30 colleagues, clients, and partners who pedaled enthusiastically in the three races wearing RTPR & friends jerseys. It was an exceptional event, organized impeccably, which managed to bring the competitive spirit and the excitement of the Tour de France to amateur cyclists of all ages. For us, it was a special experience that brought us together in a different context from our daily work, and we felt good together, we exercised, and we made beautiful memories with colleagues and friends. We are thrilled to promote such events that, in addition to the obvious health benefits, help us set goals, value ourselves correctly, find motivation, and, last but not least, push our limits. Congratulations and thanks to the organizers, and we are sure that L'Étape Romania will become a tradition for RTPR."

Laurențiu Ungureanu, Farmacia de Detergent
"Greetings, everyone, and welcome to this special day, even though it's very hot. We have gathered in an extraordinary number. First and foremost, I was impressed by the organization. Everything is meticulously planned, in perfect synchronization. The competitors are passing behind us right now, and they are sensational. Lots of beautiful people, quality people, from sponsors to organizers. It's the best energy; at least, that's how I feel. What motivates people to come here is the quality of the event first and foremost, and at the same time, the fact that they get to exercise, get out of the house, even if it's hot. I came from over three hundred kilometers away! There are many people here from outside the city who appreciate sports. The event also has economic importance, involvement, and publicity. All in equal measure."

Catalin Sprinceana, President of FRC (Romanian Cycling Federation)
"L'Étape Romania by Tour de France is more than just a sports event; it's an event that somehow opens the doors of Bucharest to engage in sports in a city that is normally suffocated by traffic. The streets are closed, which is extraordinary. This is actually sports, recreation, tourism, a beautiful package of things, not just cycling, performance, but also heart rate and excitement. When I think about the international participation and the media exposure that L'Étape du Tour has, I believe it's a good business card for Romania and Bucharest."

Cosmin Cernat, KANAL D, KANAL D2, RADIO IMPULS, EUROSPORT
"I liked it a lot, actually, very much. It's my first time participating, and I will definitely come again next year. As an experience, it's sensational to ride on the streets; it gives you that feeling of freedom that you don't otherwise have. Although I've worked in sports my whole life, as an experience, it's fabulous. I'll be back next year!"

Raluca Antohi, Marketing Specialist at Sanador
"We are here at the second edition of the L'Étape Romania by Tour de France cycling race. We are proud to be your partners; thank you for the opportunity. We provide medical assistance for any unforeseen medical situations. The atmosphere here is very dynamic; I've seen many motivated people who are happy to be here. We are glad to see that people are engaging in outdoor activities more and more, that they prefer these outdoor activities. It's wonderful. Sanador also promotes health as a lifestyle, and we are extremely happy to be here, as I said. To be part of this dynamic and beautiful event. Very dynamic partners as well, who offer prizes, all kinds of surprises. It's an environment that anyone would want to be a part of. We've made friends nicely, and we hope to repeat this experience next year and in the years to come."

Adriana Calcan, PR & CSR Manager at Reciclador
"I'm glad to be with MPG for the second edition. Last year was a surprise, and this year it honestly seems like it has grown significantly. The connection they managed to create among us, whether we are partners or responsible citizens who are here, is a reason for joy because we manage to bring people together who are eager to exercise, who care about a healthy lifestyle, and they also teach us certain things because I was talking to Sanda earlier, in the end, we all have to take care of the future. Ultimately, the future represents our children. I think such actions are useful, done consistently because little by little, things will go in a direction that we like to call responsible towards the environment. I really want to say that I am pleasantly surprised. I've been walking around here since yesterday because I see so many people. Even if we might not have known each other before, what they managed to do, this edition, is to bring us all together and become friends and stay connected for future projects because surely many other projects will be born."

Ioana Ciobanu, Terapie pentru Mișcare (Therapy for Movement)
"An event like this, especially in the city, I think is very beneficial considering that people, from what we observe, are moving less and less, or that's the trend, and the more events like this we have, the more we can promote physical activity. The Terapie pentru Mișcare (Therapy for Movement) team recommends that people in Bucharest engage in physical activity regardless of its form."

Oana Stroe, After Sales Marketing - Porsche Romania
"Today, we are here representing the Skoda brand. Skoda is also the official partner of the Tour de France, so it made perfect sense for us to be here today. We were impressed by the atmosphere and participation. We saw participants of all ages, from young to old, depending on the category they registered for. It seems to me that this is a fantastic opportunity for Bucharest because I saw participants from 14 different countries, and also, as I've been here these days preparing for the event, I saw many foreigners who came to visit and were pleasantly surprised by the initiative. Today, we had a fantastic opportunity; we could see the race live from the closing car, a superb Enyaq Coupe, and you will be able to see sensational images on our social media page."

Alexandru Ciocan, Event Organizer, Sports Commentator at Eurosport, Representative of GIANT Romania
"Fortunately, or unfortunately, I belong to two worlds. I've experienced both before '89 and now. There's a huge difference! I would have liked during my junior years to have such competitions and race conditions. I think the younger generation, the children who see us and then start doing sports or those who practice it in their early stages, are very lucky. And Bucharest is a beautiful city when you can do whatever you want on its streets."

Camelia Popescu, Marketing and Communication Manager at Lindab
"When a bit of the Tour de France atmosphere comes to Bucharest, Romanians know how to turn the event into an extraordinary celebration. I saw so many relaxed, smiling people who are enjoying life and are an inspiration to others! It's brilliant that Bucharest is hosting L'Étape Romania. As a representative of the sponsor, a resident of Bucharest, a supporter of sports events, and a participant in the 14 km race, I declare L'Étape Romania as the event of the year 2023. Congratulations to the organizers, volunteers, sponsors with a perfect 10, and thanks to the state institutions that said a big YES to the event."

Andreea Irimia, Think Healthy
"I've liked it a lot since I arrived yesterday and picked up my kit. It seemed to me that people were already highly involved. Even this morning when I arrived at 7:30, people were already busy. It's a great vibe. I believe that people who come to such events are cool, and the brands that have associated themselves are highly relevant and useful. I also liked on the route that people were highly involved. I made new friends on the route just because we were in the same race, and that says something about the people who participate here. Likewise, when I finished the race, I was well taken care of with hydration, everyone was ready to help, take pictures, congratulate you. On the route, the volunteers congratulated us in all sorts of ways, applauded us at every intersection, and that gives you the feeling that you are doing something important, even if the 14 km I participated in might not be a big deal for some people, for me, it was a lot and very cool. The fact that people encourage others to come here and gather in the Race Village is great."

Antoine Queries - Project Manager for the L'Étape by Tour de France series at A.S.O.
First of all, I want to congratulate the organizers for the second edition of L’Étape Romania by Tour de France. There is a visible growth on all levels compared to the first edition, and a spectacular increase in the number of participants. The atmosphere was extraordinary, full of energy and joy. Although it's only the second edition, Romania is thus ranked in the top 30% of the L’Étape series in terms of the number of participants and among the best-organized events in Europe.
The L'Étape by Tour de France series was created to allow people to experience the unique atmosphere of the Tour de France, wherever they are in the world and regardless of their cycling level. Each of the 33 events organized worldwide is the best promotion for this sport. With distances adapted for every level and cycling ability, our events have a direct impact on various local cycling communities.
In recent decades, the number of new recreational and entertainment activities has grown significantly, and physical activities are no longer a part of some people's lives. Therefore, the role of amateur sports events is more important than ever. With the L'Étape events, we don't just offer races; we offer a complete Tour de France experience that makes cycling accessible and fun for all participants. It's the perfect way to entertain people and encourage them to incorporate sports into their daily lives and take care of their health.
As an international cycling series, L'Étape by Tour de France has the power to attract participants from all over the world. People come from other cities and even other countries. For example, this year you had participants from 14 different countries at the starting line of L'Étape Romania. These participants need accommodation, transportation, food... Maybe they'll want to do some tourist activities or take back souvenirs. All of this directly contributes to the local economy of the host region. And the more participants there are, the greater the economic impact.
Even though L'Étape du Tour, in France, is slightly different from the other events in the series due to the number of participants (around 17,000), some aspects of its appeal are common to all L'Étape events. First and foremost, the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the Tour de France, just like professional cyclists, is definitely the most significant advantage of all our events. Then, the opportunity to ride on completely closed roads is also unique for most cyclists. Indeed, the L'Étape series are the only events that have this complete road closure in many countries. Finally, each of our events represents a challenge for participants, whether they are competitive athletes or beginner cyclists. For some, the goal is to achieve the best possible time/ranking, while for others, finishing the race is a huge achievement.
Having the support of local authorities is mandatory when organizing an event in the L'Étape series. It's impossible to have a race organized on closed roads, 100% safely, without involving them in the event. This is the first step. Then, to have an event that grows year after year, having the full support of local authorities is essential. Events in the L'Étape series are always a wonderful opportunity not only for participants and organizers but also for local authorities. Having an event with the Tour de France brand is something unique in a country; it puts a city in the international spotlight and brings people from all over.
I'm sure the organizers are already thinking about the 2024 edition, which we invite you not to miss."

Tudor Ștefan Mocuța, CEO of MPG, Organizer of L’Étape Romania
"What a race! What an atmosphere! How much joy! We close the second edition of L’Étape Romania by Tour de France with the desire to take this event even higher. These wonderful people who took the start or just visited the Race Village, as well as the sponsors who got involved with festival-worthy activations, motivate us and inspire us to continue the story. We are pleased that over 200 children took part in the legendary race. We are obligated to educate our children to be active in sports, to show them how exciting it is to start in such a competition, to understand that we have a beautiful capital, and that sports bring us together in mutual respect and respect for nature. Thank you all, and we look forward to the 2024 edition."

In Conclusion
Over 8 months of preparation, thousands of hours of teamwork from over 300 technicians, communication and implementation specialists from the organizers, authorities, partner agencies, and sponsors, over 400 volunteers, over

400 police officers and gendarmes, over 100 security and intervention vehicles on race day, over 5,000 safety barriers, and a lot of determination. This is, in short, the logistics needed for organization and to provide all cycling enthusiasts with a memorable experience at the second edition of L’Étape Romania by Tour de France.

Thank you, and we look forward to the 2024 edition!

Posted on 30 Aug 2023 at 14h40