The organizers of the international cycling race, Tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina, held a working meeting with the Mayor of Sarajevo, Mr. Samir Avdićand the meeting was attended by Toni Zorić, Race Director and President of the Cycling Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Said Fazlagić, Secretary General of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who is also a special partner of the Tour.
"It is a great honor and pleasure that the City of Sarajevo has agreed to host the start of the Tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will take place in April 2026,” the organizers emphasized. With this act, Sarajevo joins the ranks of major global cities that host the start or finish of the most renowned Tours, increasing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s visibility and recognition internationally.
Mayor Avdić highlighted the importance of such a project for promoting sports, tourism, and international visibility of the capital, stressing that the City of Sarajevo recognizes the positive sporting impact of the Tour and fully supports this major sporting event.
Interest in participating in the inaugural edition of the Tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina has already been expressed by 50 teams from 37 countries around the world, exceeding the UCI quota of 176 professional cyclists. The organizers are aware of the limitations but emphasize that they will strive to include as many countries as possible to make the race internationally diverse, sportingly competitive, and organizationally top-level.
“Our goal is to showcase Bosnia and Herzegovina as a country with the capacity, knowledge, and experience to organize such a major sporting and tourism event. The Tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina is not just a cycling race – it is a story about promoting our country, its natural beauty, cities, and people,” said Race Director, Toni Zorić.
The race will start in Sarajevo on April 17, 2026, with a ceremonial presentation of the project for distinguished guests, officials, and partners planned for the previous day.
Over three stages, from Sarajevo to Neum, covering 400 kilometers, the race will connect the most beautiful parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, promoting tourist destinations, cities, and municipalities. A special significance is that the Bosnia and Herzegovina National Team will, for the first time, race on home soil, competing for UCI points that lead toward participation in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The Tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina thus becomes more than a sporting event – it becomes a symbol of unity, pride, and the promotion of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the world.
