Record number of foreign riders at the 2026 cross-Vietnam cycling race

Thirteen foreign cyclists from five continents are set to elevate the excitement and professional caliber of the 2026 HTV Television Cup national cycling race.

This year, the race has attracted a record number of foreign riders in its history, including twelve new participants. These cyclists hail from top cycling nations worldwide, such as Russia, Italy, Switzerland, Belarus, and Colombia.

"This is the first time I have witnessed so many unknowns. There will certainly be many interesting and dramatic moments in this year's race," former coach Tran Van Quyt told VnExpress.

Rwandan cyclist Mugisha Moise of the TP HCM Vinama team. Photo: Duc Dong

Roman Maikin (Russia, An Giang team) is the sole "familiar face," having competed in Vietnam for four years. The 33-year-old cyclist is known for his speed but struggles on mountainous terrain.

Among the strong contenders is Robinson Chalapud (Colombia, Cong an TP HCM team). He possesses exceptional climbing and individual time trial abilities. Robinson won the Colombian national championship in 2025, the Tour of Qinghai Lake in 2019, the Vuelta al Ecuador in 2022 and 2023, and participated in the Giro D’italia in 2014.

From Africa, Rwandan cyclist Mugisha Moise, riding for TP HCM Vinama team, specializes in individual time trials. He won the U23 African Road Race in 2019, the Tour Cameroun in 2022, the Tour Grand Prix Chantal, and the Rwandan individual time trial in 2023.

Pierantozzi Lucio hails from Italy, a nation with a leading cycling movement. Riding for Dong Nai team, experts highly regard Lucio for his climbing prowess.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian cyclist Tesfay Amanuel Teklehaymanot, representing 620 Chau Thoi Vinh Long, boasts an impressive record, including a top 10 finish in the Tour du Rwanda (UCI2.1) and a top 4 finish in the Ethiopian individual time trial.

The Cong an TP HCM team, a newcomer to the 2026 HTV Television Cup. Photo: Duc Dong

The 2026 HTV Television Cup - Ton Dong A national cycling race will take place from 3/4 to 30/4. The peloton will start from Phu Tho, the ancestral land of the Vietnamese people, closely associated with the worship of the Hung Kings and the sacred Hung Temple historical site.

The race will then cover 25 stages, totaling 2,745 km, traversing provinces and cities from the north to the south, concluding at the Unification Hall in TP HCM on 30/4.

The total prize money is nearly 2 billion VND, with the overall Yellow Jersey winner receiving 200 million VND, the Orange Jersey winner 100 million VND, the team champion 100 million VND, the Green Jersey (sprinter king) 50 million VND, the Red Jersey (mountain king) 50 million VND, and the White Jersey (young rider) 30 million VND.

On 3/4, the peloton will begin with the first stage, a 50 km loop around Van Lang Park.