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During the years when the Olympic Gold medalist of 1976 and world champion Aavo Pikkuus had made cycling extremely popular, the idea of organizing a cycling race similar to Tartu Maraton was brought alive. The main bigwig was the famous cycling coach Rein Kirsipuu.
The first Tartu Rattaralli took place in May 1982 and started from the main square of Tartu. That year, there were 362 riders in the finish. Many serious fights and discussions were held to decide the right distances and level of difficulty. As there had not been any similar races in Estonia, at first the long and difficult distances frightened everyone. But when the riders finished the first race in Põlva, 46,7 km from Tartu, the organizers saw that the fear was meaningless: riders also rode their bikes back to Tartu.
The positive message from those riders encouraged about 1000 people to take part in the next race. Many different vehicles were used, and that is why ranking was classified: road bicycles, professionial bicycles, tandems and foldable bicycles. The course of Tartu Rattaralli has varied within years. Present 133 km from Tartu to Otepää and back through Elva has been the same for many years. Start and finish are in the same place – by the Aura Center in the city center of Tartu. Because of different road work in 2007, the race was held on an original course from Tartu to Põlva, and then following the old Võru road to Otepää and then back to Tartu. This course was very warmly accepted by the participants.
In 1984 – 1989 Tartu Rattaralli had ca 3000-4000 participants per year. Political changes decreased the numbers drastically. The new growth started in 1998 and 1999. Present Tartu Rattaralli races have altogether over 4000 participants on main event and over 3000 on childrens' event. The popularity is largely grown also thanks to the professional riders. For fanciers the race still remains as a competition with themselves, their friends or neighbours!
Tartu Rattaralli also has it’s position as the biggest cycling race in neighbouring countries. Accompanied by the UCI Europe Tour class 1.1 race it is the final event of the May’s cycling festival Estonian Cycling Weekend.
Tartu Rattaralli winners
1982
Oleg Ljadov
EST
Erika Salumäe
EST
1983
Mihkel Joosep
EST
Anda Kirilova
LAT
1984
Riho Suun
EST
Tatjana Tshirkina
EST
1985
Arvi Tammesalu
EST
Inguna Putninja
LAT
1986
Toomas Kirsipuu
EST
Inguna Putninja
LAT
1987
Vladimir Poltoratski
KAZ
Elita Gusaka
LAT
1988
Uldis Ansons
LAT
Tatjana Volkova
RUS
1989
Arnolds Urdis
LAT
Galina Naumova
RUS
1990
Lauri Resik
EST
Lilja Beljajeva
RUS
1991
Jaan Kirsipuu
EST
Tiina Pallas
EST
1992
Janek Ermel
EST
Tiina Pallas
EST
1993
Lauri Resik
EST
Siiri Plaan
EST
1994
Marko Rebane
EST
Tiina Pallas
EST
1995
Margus Salumets
EST
Riina Toomis
EST
1996
Janek Ermel
EST
Tiina Pallas
EST
1997
Lauri Resik
EST
Riina Toomis
EST
1998
Alges Maasikmets
EST
Tiina Pallas
EST
1999
Lauri Aus
EST
Riina Toomis
EST
2000
Jaan Kirsipuu
EST
Riina Toomis
EST
2001
Jacky Durand
FRA
Riina Toomis
EST
2002
Janek Tombak
EST
Grete Pedmanson (Treier)
EST
2003
Erki Pütsep
EST
Grete Treier
EST
2004
Jaan Kirsipuu
EST
Grete Treier
EST
2005
Andrus Aug
EST
Evelin Ansip
EST
2006
Alexandr Khatuntsev
RUS
Laura Lepasalu
EST
2007
Lukasz Podolski
POL
Grete Treier
EST
2008
Aidis Kruopis
LTU
Liisa Ehrberg
EST
2009
Janek Tombak
EST
Maaris Meier
EST
2010
Vytautas Kaupas
LTU
Grete Treier
EST
2011
Jimmy Rönn
SWE
Liisi Rist
EST
2012
Rene Joergensen
DEN
Grete Treier
EST
2013
Gert Jõeäär
EST
Grete Treier
EST
2014
Samuel Pökälä
FIN
Liisa Ehrberg
EST
2015
Andrii Kulyk
UKR
Liisa Ehrberg
EST
2016
Matti Manninen
FIN
Liisa Ehrberg
EST
2017
Jonas Ahlstrand
SWE
Liisi Rist
EST
2018
Karl-Patrick Lauk
EST
Kelly Kalm
EST
2019
Gleb Karpenko
EST
Kelly Kalm
EST
2022
Romet Pajur
EST
Malin Eriksen
NOR
2023
Norman Vahtra
EST
Matilda Frantzich
SWE
2024
Mihkel Räim
EST
Elisabeth Ebras
EST
2025
Lauri Tamm
EST
Aidi Gerde Tuisk
EST
