• Itamar Einhorn starts his 2021-season: ‘Finally’
  • Ben Moshe joins WorldTour-team for first time: ‘Worked for this for long time’.
  • Pridham from Rwanda to Hungary: ‘Great adventure’

Israel Start-Up Nation returns to the Tour de Hongrie. The race that Israel Cycling Academy won in 2019 with Krists Neilands, features the return of Israeli sprinter Itamar Einhorn and the WorldTour-team debut of Yuval Ben Moshe.

Back from knee injury

Einhorn suffered a knee injury at the beginning of the season, so the sprinter took time for his recovery, did some races on the track, and is returning to begin his road competition for the 2021-season in Hungary.

Recovering from the knee injury took Einhorn longer than expected, he says. “However, now I feel like I am ready to race on the road again. This race will be special and I can imagine that I have to get used to the peloton feeling once again.”

“From my experiences on the track over the last few weeks, I do know that I am on the right way,” Einhorn continues. “We are going to Hungary with a number of fast guys, and I am looking forward to racing with them. I see the Tour de Hongrie as a build-up to bigger races yet to come.”

Ben Moshe introduced to WorldTour-team

The Tour de Hongrie also means Yuval Ben Moshe’s WorldTour debut. The Israeli sprinter is excited to get a chance to show himself.

“I am really looking forward to the Tour de Hongrie,” Ben Moshe says. “With the continental riders who are living in Girona, I have been training a lot. We motivate each other, especially when we share each other’s stories about racing.”

Ben Moshe: “Getting the chance to race in the WorldTour-colors is something I have been looking forward to, and worked for, for a long time.”

“For us, as continental team-riders, it is an amazing thing that we can sometimes race with the WorldTour-team,” Ben Moshe says. “We gain experience and I am sure that I will learn a lot during the week in Hungary.”

Mixture of riders

Sports director Dirk Demol says Israel Start-Up Nation has a balanced team. “We bring powerhouses, youngsters, experienced riders, sprinters, and a good climber. There is a large variety in the stages and we will play our cards accordingly.”

Demol will be accompanied by Cherie Pridham. The first female sports director in the WorldTour has a busy racing schedule and traveled straight from the Tour du Rwanda to the Tour de Hongrie.

“Rwanda was a great adventure,” she says, “especially having the community #RacingForChange projects. I am sure the Tour de Hongrie will be a nice race too.”

Israel Start-Up Nation’s line up for Tour de Hongrie:

  • Ben Hermans
  • Rudy Barbier
  • Itamar Einhorn
  • Taj Jones
  • Tom Van Asbroeck
  • Yuval Ben Moshe

Sports directors: Dirk Demol and Cherie Pridham
Tour de Hongrie: 12-16 May