Mr Codreanu, how did Moldova come to be among the organisers of the ‘Tour of Romania’?
This decision was taken by our Romanian colleagues, which gave us a significant boost. I should point out that the ‘Tour of Romania’ is an international multi-day race with a long history: the first edition took place as far back as 1934. It now consists of five stages – five races between different cities. This year, the first stage will run from Chișinău to Ungheni, and we will be co-organising it with our Romanian counterparts.
This is a high-level competition: professional teams from 15 countries are expected to take part, totalling around 25 teams. Participants will include national teams and clubs from Europe, as well as a team from the USA.
For Moldova, this is first and foremost about international visibility – not just for the federation or the athletes, but for the country as a whole. Events like this boost recognition, enhance our image and promote tourism; they demonstrate that competitions of this scale can be held here.
How will the Moldovan stage be organised, and what will happen after the finish in Ungheni?
The first stage is a full-fledged road race from Chișinău to Ungheni. The riders will finish there, and an official awards ceremony for the winners and medallists will take place. In other words, Moldova is hosting the very first full stage of the multi-day race, rather than simply providing a ceremonial start. Afterwards, the entire convoy (riders, organisers and technical staff) will travel by car to Iași, where the teams will be provided with accommodation for the night.
The very next day, the second stage begins, following the route from Iași to Piatra Neamț. The route then passes through Baile Tușnad, Brașov and Ploiești, culminating in a spectacular finish in Bucharest. Thanks to this extensive coverage and the broadcasts, the Republic of Moldova is being put on the sporting map across Europe.
Will the Moldovan team be taking part in the race, or are they simply organising it?
Yes, we are fielding a national team of six riders: Semen Kulichenko, Gennady Morgun, Ilya Novikov, Ilya Sheremet, Andrei Kovalchuk and Andrei Vrabiy. This is particularly important for us, as recent years have been difficult for Moldovan cycling. The lads were demoralised, and the national team hadn’t taken part in the Tour of Romania for six years, even though the race takes place right on our doorstep. We’ve now managed to bring the athletes together, motivate them and organise a training camp in the mountains of Romania. So the return of our national team is an achievement in its own right. It is important for us not simply to be present at the start line, but to reintegrate the athletes into the normal international competitive cycle.
What caused the Moldovan Cycling Federation’s long hiatus?
The problems were financial, organisational and institutional. In other words, there is no single cause that can be quickly resolved. When there is no sustainable system in place for several years, it is the sporting process that suffers first and foremost: there is no consistent training, no international calendar, and the athletes lose motivation. The very fact that Moldova did not field a national team at the Tour of Romania for six years is telling. This is a major race in a neighbouring country, and the national team should be taking advantage of such opportunities on a regular basis.
We are now, step by step, restoring the federation’s core functions.
Denis Codreanu and Cătălin Alexandru Sprinchană, President of the Romanian Cycling Federation
Are competitions your main objective? What is the role of the sports federation within this system?
The federation’s remit is not limited to organising individual races. We must formulate policies for the development of the sport, prepare national teams, train coaches and officials, ensure athletes’ participation in European and world championships, and work towards the Olympic Games. Our athletes are already taking part in European and world championships. The situation is more complicated when it comes to the Olympic Games: the selection process there is much tougher, and simply qualifying for the Games in cycling is already a very significant achievement.
How well-developed is professional cycling within the country today?
In fact, it is developing where cycling development centres operate. Today, these exist in only three towns: a specialist cycling school in Chișinău, a cycling section at the sports school in Bălți, and a specialist school in Tiraspol. The fact that there are sections in just three towns is a major limiting factor. By way of comparison: football, wrestling and judo are represented in virtually every district of the republic.
As for professional athletes, there are currently around 80 officially registered and licensed cyclists in Moldova. For a country of this size, this is, of course, a modest figure. If we want to change the situation, cycling must extend beyond these three towns. Without expanding its geographical reach, we will not achieve a high-quality sporting infrastructure.
Why hasn’t cycling become a mass sport in Moldova? Is it an expensive sport?
Yes, that is one of the key factors. The entry barrier is significantly lower for football, wrestling or judo. Cycling requires specialised equipment, and first and foremost – a bicycle. Even a basic sports bike can cost from 1,000 euros, whilst road bikes for serious competition range from 3,000 to 7,000 euros. To kit out a team of six, the cost of bicycles alone could run to 40,000–50,000 euros. On top of this come helmets, kit and other equipment. Therefore, developing such a sport requires substantial resources and a systematic approach.
However, the high cost does not mean that we should give up on expanding and promoting cycling in Moldova. On the contrary, we need to find a model whereby children can join clubs and gain access to equipment through sports schools free of charge.
Does the federation plan to expand its geographical presence in the regions?
Yes, we are already taking concrete steps. In particular, a preliminary agreement has been reached with the town council of Caușani. The town authorities are currently considering the allocation of premises for a new cycling club. A venue has already been selected; we are awaiting the final decision. If everything goes smoothly, we expect to open the club there by the end of September.
For us, Kaushany is a very significant location: there’s a high uptake amongst young people there, several large schools are in operation, plus there are many nearby villages from which young people will be able to travel to training sessions. Once this model is up and running, it could be the first step towards gradually expanding the network into other areas.
Experience in many countries shows that cycling is part of mainstream culture. Why is it at such a low level here?
This is a real problem, and it requires not just a sporting approach, but an institutional one. I cycled competitively for 12 years myself, took part in the Youth Olympic Games, and know full well what it means to train on our roads. That said, I wouldn’t attribute it solely to the lack of cycle lanes. A great deal depends on the attitude of motorists and the general culture of road use. When I first travelled to Belgium with the national team, I was struck by the fact that cars could drive alongside our cycling group for a long time and calmly wait for a safe place to overtake. Nobody honked their horn, tried to cut us off, or created any tension on the road. It’s a completely different attitude towards cyclists.
In Europe, people understand that a cyclist means one less car in a traffic jam and cleaner air. Here, however, a cyclist on the road is often seen as a nuisance. Even I, with my vast cycling experience, sometimes feel apprehensive on our streets because of haphazard parking, sudden lane changes and the aggressive behaviour of some drivers. A cycle lane can be built, but educating road users is a process that requires time and joint efforts from society and the state.
There is a view that the main factor is poor infrastructure, particularly in cities. Is this true?
Infrastructure is essential, but it won’t automatically solve everything. Chisinau is also a challenging city for cyclists due to its hilly terrain: there are many inclines here, and it is difficult for an untrained person to get around the city by bike. In flatter areas, the bicycle naturally becomes a means of everyday transport, as is the case, for example, in our villages of Gotești or Pugățeni. The terrain there is flat, so one in two people uses a bicycle.
But even in Chișinău, the problem would be less of an issue if cyclists were respected on the road. When people know they won’t be ‘cut off’ or forced off the road, they feel much safer. That is why we need to develop infrastructure, promote cycling and change the culture of behaviour amongst road users all at the same time.
What, in your view, can be done in the very near future?
Start with consistent, realistic steps. We need to talk more about the benefits of cycling – health, the environment, reduced emissions, and fewer cars on the roads. At the same time, we need to expand safe infrastructure. We can see that dedicated cycle lanes and cycle parking facilities are already appearing in Chișinău, and that’s a good sign. In the near future, the federation would like to approach the mayor’s office or the government with initiatives to expand the cycle path network. There are European projects through which we can seek funding, and provided the funding is available, we are ready to propose specific streets and solutions.
The key is not to expect a perfect system to emerge overnight, but to add new sections each year and gradually build a high-quality cycling environment.
Moldovan national cycling team
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