Stunning moment: wild bear becomes improbable spectator at Sibiu Tour race convoy - footage available
In an unexpected turn of events, a large wild brown bear was spotted during the 203-kilometre mountainous stage of the ongoing Sibiu Tour in Romania. The footage of the bear was captured by cycling journalist Mihai Simion near the summit finish of Balea Lac.
The Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) was observed standing on the side of the road for some seconds before making a swift exit, showing little interest in the cyclists. This incident, while thrilling, was relatively low-key compared to other wild animal encounters during bike races in Romania.
The appearance of the brown bear during the Sibiu Tour is not unprecedented. In fact, Romania, particularly the Carpathian Mountains and the Transfăgărășan road, is known for having one of the largest populations of brown bears in Europe outside of Russia.
Unfortunately, not all encounters with these majestic creatures have ended peacefully. In July 2025, an Italian motorcyclist was killed after a bear attacked him on the Transfăgărășan mountain road. The motorcyclist had stopped and gotten off his bike to feed and photograph the bear, disregarding posted warnings.
Over the past two decades, Romania has seen nearly 30 bear-related human fatalities. These incidents underscore the importance of respecting wildlife and heeding warnings when engaging in outdoor activities in bear habitats.
While direct reports specifically naming "bike races" are not abundant, the presence of bears during motorcycling trips on known routes like the Transfăgărășan strongly indicates that wild bear appearances during such events have occurred before.
In a separate incident, Italian champion Filippo Conca crashed into a marmot while training at altitude this summer, resulting in a week off the bike. Other riders experienced mishaps during the Sibiu Tour as well, with some jumping over and colliding into race vehicles, and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) and Txomin Juaristi (Euskaltel-Euskadi) both crashing.
Despite these challenges, the Sibiu Tour continues to captivate audiences. American climber Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) won stage 2 of the Sibiu Tour and moved into the overall lead of the four-day, 2.1 event. The tour is scheduled to finish on Sunday.
As the Sibiu Tour continues, cyclists and spectators alike will undoubtedly keep a keen eye out for any more unexpected wildlife encounters. It serves as a reminder of the beauty and unpredictability of nature and the importance of coexisting harmoniously with the creatures that share our planet.
[1] Source: https://www.romania-insider.com/bear-killed-motorcyclist-transfagarasan-road/ [2] Source: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/romania-bear-attack-motorcyclist/index.html [3] Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53866439 [4] Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-bear-attack-idUSKBN2641IW
- During the Sibiu Tour, often comparable to bike races in Romania's wild terrains, the presence of animals like bears is a possibility, as shown by the bear incident on the mountainous stage and the notorious bear encounters on the Transfăgărășan road.
- While cyclists and spectators eagerly await more wildlife encounters during the Sibiu Tour, it is essential to remember previous incidents where human-bear interactions have been tragic, such as the fatal attack on an Italian motorcyclist in 2025, a grim reminder of the importance of respecting wildlife and heeding warnings in bear habitats.
