Speaking at the presentation of the 2006 Tour of Serbia International Bicycle Race, the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Predrag Markovic, said that it was good for cyclists of various nations to race through Serbia. However, he emphasised, the idea behind the race’s slogan was not for Europe to just race through Serbia, but to get to know each of its regions. ‘This race has been promoting Serbia for sixty-seven years. I am pleased to again serve as chairman of the Honorary Board of such a traditional event, one that has been around longer than I have, and I hope that it will yet endure and become a true Serbian brand’, Mr Markovic concluded.

The chairman of the Race’s Organising Committee and Serbian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Services, Bojan Dimitrijevic, said that at this time, a month before the race is scheduled to begin, everything was ready; as far as the Organising Committee was concerned, he added, the race could start now. He underlined the importance of contributions made by the Ministry of Capital Investment, the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation, as a public service, local authorities, and sponsors – without whose support the race could not be held. He reiterated that the Race should be on the international calendar of events, as it had all the necessary pre-requisites: tradition, a history of good organisation, international character, and a blend of tourism, sports, and culture. Mr Dimitrijevic announced that 2007 would see the Race become commercial, a logical step in its development.

On behalf of the organisers, the Race Chairman, Borivoje Ivkovic, said that all stages would be broadcast live on television, while head of Race Organisation, Aleksandar Milenkovic, reminded the public of the Race’s circuit – a total of 1,020 kilometres, with 6 stages and 2 hill finishes, Kopaonik (1,730m) and Vlasina (1,300m) – adding that more than 300 contestants from 25 nations would take part. This year’s race starts in Belgrade and finishes in Oplenac, and takes six days – from 12 to 18 June 2006.