While the European long-distance season has already wrapped up with the Barcelona and Pau races, on the eastern flank of Europe there is still the most interesting race of the summer to come: the Moldova Derby 2026 , which on September 15 will bring together in the 500km Grand Final the best pigeons that have survived the entire campaign from the Verejeni loft, in the heart of Telenești.
A derby on the rise with 55,555 euros on the table
The Moldova Derby operates from Grigore Melincescu 's loft in Verejeni (Telenești, Moldova), with a maximum capacity of 1,400 pigeons per season. The entry fee is €100 per pigeon, with a team package of six birds for €500 (plus one free). The guaranteed prize fund amounts to €55,555 , distributed down to 100th place, with €10,000 for the winner of the Grand Final and €1,500 for the Ace Pigeon of the championship.
The pigeons are tracked using the Benzing Live system with 24-hour video surveillance, allowing breeders worldwide to follow arrivals in real time. This commitment to transparency has attracted participants from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and other pigeon-racing nations over the past two years.
Stage 3: The Vilkevych family takes the victory by 1.61 seconds
On August 20, 2026, Stage 3 of the Moldova Derby was held from Taraclia , 180 km from the base loft in Verejeni. 739 pigeons were released at 06:30, of which 532 returned with a recorded result.
The pigeon BE 26 6067741 , owned by the Vilkevych family (Belgium), crossed the finish line at 08:47:36 with a speed of 1,308 m/min , beating the second-place finisher by just 1.61 seconds . The course included cross-wind sections and temperature changes over open, dry terrain, without the benefit of tailwinds.
The Van Oosten Luijten team (Netherlands) placed three pigeons in the top 10 (2nd, 5th and 9th places), a demonstration of reproductive depth that positions them as one of the strong candidates for the Grand Final.
Stage 2: the top 10 separated by 12 seconds
Just a week earlier, on August 14, Stage 2 was contested from Abaclia over 135 km. The conditions were also demanding, with a south-north route and sections of headwind. The average speed of the leading group was around 1,200 m/min , and the top ten positions were decided within 12 seconds, a sign that the peloton is at a similar level and that the Grand Final could deliver a very close finish.
The schedule leading up to the Grand Final
- August 14 : Stage 2, 135 km from Abaclia.
- August 20 : Stage 3, 180 km from Taraclia. Winner: Vilkevych family, BE 26 6067741.
- September 15 : Grand Final, 500 km. First prize: 10,000 euros. Prizes up to 100th place.
The top four finishers in the various scoring stages also receive a free team registration for the following season, which adds a competitive incentive beyond the immediate financial prize.
Why Moldova
It may be surprising that a derby of this nature has taken root in Moldova rather than Belgium, the Netherlands, or Spain. The advantages of the location are clear: hills free of artificial obstacles, unobstructed horizons, an absence of heavy industrial pollution, and open spaces that force the pigeons to rely on their internal compass without geographical shortcuts. This is precisely what breeders who want to measure the true navigational potential of their birds are looking for.
With a location logistically accessible from the major pigeon racing centers of Benelux and Central Europe, the Derby Moldova is building a reputation for seriousness and transparency that competitive breeders value as much as the amount of the check.
A test that deserves to be followed.
Less than a month remains until the Grand Final on September 15th. With the Vilkevych family leading after their victory in Stage 3 and the Van Oosten Luijten team lurking in the shadows with three pigeons in the top 10, the coming days will be crucial in defining the final conditioning strategy. The difference between 1,308 m/min over 180 km and actual performance over 500 km remains to be seen.
If you participate in these types of derbies and want to keep track of results, pedigrees, and preparation of your pigeons in one place, FirePedigree allows you to manage the entire history of your racing birds without complications.
Sources: PigeonBoss - Stage 3 Derby Moldova 2026 , PigeonBoss - Derby Moldova 2026 presentation , PigeonBoss - Stage 2 Derby Moldova 2026 .