Toni Zorić, President of the Cycling Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and race director, stated in an interview for Klix.ba that he is extremely proud that the race will finally come to life.
"The idea of a national Tour has been smoldering within us for many years. Until now, we were the only country in the region without its own international stage race of this caliber. Upon my appointment as President of the Cycling Federation of BiH, I made a firm promise to my colleagues and the sports public that Bosnia and Herzegovina would get its Tour. I am happy and proud that today, with the support of the team and partners, I am fulfilling that promise and that BiH is finally taking its place on the world cycling map, which it has long deserved due to its beauty and potential," said Zorić.
The Tour will start from Sarajevo, and the first stage will pass through Konjic and Jablanica and finish in Mostar. The second stage will be ridden on Saturday from Mostar via Čapljina, Grude to Ljubuški, and on Sunday is the final stage from Ljubuški, via Stolac to Neum.
Given that cyclist safety is the top priority, there will be restricted movement and occasional complete traffic stoppages on several main routes and in numerous towns and municipalities. Zorić explained how this was the biggest organizational challenge.
"Logistical challenges and road blockades were undoubtedly the biggest organizational challenge. For more than seven months, we have been intensively working on obtaining all necessary permits to ensure maximum safety for participants and citizens. We have just recently received the final required document, successfully concluding this multi-month administrative process," says Zorić.
Although it was planned for cyclists to take the highway from Sarajevo towards Konjic, this will not happen; instead, the race will go via the M17 main road. "Our initial plan was for the race to start from Sarajevo on the highway, which is logistically the simplest and safest solution. However, we encountered an unusual legal obstacle—the valid Law on Roads of the Federation of BiH does not foresee holding sports events on highways. Although this is common practice worldwide, including in neighboring countries where, for example, the Belgrade-Banja Luka race smoothly uses part of the highway in the Republic of Srpska, it was not possible for us at this time. I appeal to the competent institutions to consider this issue and initiate legal amendments so that in the coming years we can use highways as premier sports arenas, following the example of other countries worldwide. Nevertheless, we have learned a lot from this process, and I am convinced that every future organization will proceed much more smoothly," said Zorić.
The Tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina will feature competitors from as many as 38 countries. "The interest from teams pleasantly surprised us. We expected around 15 teams to participate, mainly from the region and neighboring countries. However, as soon as the race was included in the official UCI calendar, requests started pouring in from all over the world—more than 80 teams sought their place on the starting line. This is a clear indicator of how attractive Bosnia and Herzegovina is as a destination. We will have 25 elite teams from as many as 38 countries at the start," conveyed Zorić.
Our country will be represented in the race by our best competitors Vedad Karić, Husein Selimović, Ivan Širić, Anes Ćehajić... "Our national team is currently in final preparations in Mostar, as part of the Olympic Solidarity program. The selector has gathered our best cyclists, including Vedad Karić, Husein Selimović, Ivan Širić, Anes Ćehajić, and others. Although the competition is extremely strong and renowned names eager for UCI points are coming, I believe in the 'Bosnian defiance' and am confident that our guys will show themselves in the best light on home ground," said Zorić.
Finally, Zorić asked the Bosnian-Herzegovinian public for patience, as traffic will be halted at specific time intervals on roads across our country. "In conclusion, I take this opportunity to ask all drivers and citizens for patience and understanding during the race. This is a project of national importance that promotes our country in the best light. I invite you to take to the streets from Sarajevo to Neum, bring flags, and support our guys. They are fighting for the best placement in their own country—let's show them we are with them and give them the support they deserve!" said Toni Zorić, President of the Cycling Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and director of the Tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina.