Moreno Moser and the Tour de Pologne: ten years ago the victory that was worth a career

A classy finisseur accustomed to surprising us with his out-of-the-ordinary actions, Moreno Moser wrote his name in the Tour de Pologne palmarès ten years ago, on the 16th of July, when he won the yellow jersey on the iconic finish in Krakow. 

Today, from his new role as sports commentator, he reminisces about those days, confirming once again how the competition is a springboard for young champions.  “Winning the Tour de Pologne was a really important step in my career,” Moser confirmed. “For sure, a lot has changed for me since then, both professionally and in terms of the media. I was young and a success like that, on an international level, was very important to grow and raise the bar.”

The man from Trentino said that he participated twice more in the Polish race after his victory and confirmed how the level of the race has risen from season to season, making it increasingly tough and competitive.

“The Tour de Pologne is a short but atypical race. It is very hard but it is suitable for sprinters, not pure climbers. In addition, you can’t afford any distractions, because the gaps are always short and so the sprint finishes and bonuses are also crucial for the general classification. Nothing should be underestimated, every moment and every situation requires attention because you put your chance of a victory at risk in a few seconds.”

Moser also spoke about his fondest memories of the Polish race, especially the Bukovina stage ten years ago, where he regained the lead with a spectacular sprint.

“I remember there was a lot of tension that day,” he says. “Two stages before I had lost the yellow jersey because of an intermediate sprint that we had not calculated. By now I was convinced I had thrown the race away because of a distraction and morale was not the best. The Bukovina stage is always very tough and I didn’t know if I could hold on to such a course, then the cramp came – right at the start of the last climb – and I told myself it was really over. Instead at the flat point I managed to recover, switched to a more agile gear to loosen up my legs and was able to sprint. I certainly didn’t expect to win it, it was a surprise for me too. Over the last few days I’ve been watching the video again and, without being presumptuous, I can say that I did a really good number.”

Now that Moreno is in the commentary chair for an international broadcaster, covering the most important races of the World Tour circuit, he is aware of how cycling has taught him many useful lessons for his new professional career.

“This is the hardest sport of all,” he explains. “In addition to the fatigue there are a lot of variables – weather, risks, crashes – that teach you to adapt, to be resilient and disciplined. You definitely learn to organise yourself and be ready for every eventuality. For example, at the Tour de Pologne you go to bed very late because the stages are long – I remember that we often ate at 11pm – and this helps you not to get too used to set times and rhythms but to be elastic and flexible.”