Tour de Pologne: 5 reasons to follow the race and visit Poland

The Tour de Pologne is one of the most eagerly awaited events in Poland and every year it attracts visitors from all over Europe, curious to learn more about a country rich in history and at the same time projecting itself into the modern world. 

The seven-stage race is the only UCI WorldTour event in this part of Europe, and there are many reasons to follow the Polish race along its route and book a flight to Poland from August 12th to August 18th. Here are five:

1. Poland, a country full of extraordinary history and deep culture

Poland’s history is particularly fascinating and is reflected in the wonderful architectural treasures that turn its cities into veritable open-air museums. Poland has always been a central point in Europe, both geographically and culturally. The encounter of different cultures is evident when visiting the country, with its multi-ethnic traditions, monuments and history that have made it unique. While following the race it is worth taking a chance to see the beautiful Tatra Mountains and the incredible Wawel Castle in Krakow, where the Italian Bona Sforza introduced the former Polish capital with Renaissance art and architecture.

2. A park as big as the country

It is impossible to talk about Poland without mentioning its 23 national parks, with their majestic mountains, crystal-clear lakes and primeval forests. The mountain resort of Karpacz, for example, has been the scene of great cycling emotions for many years.  Here you can find yourself in the Polish Karkonosze National Park and reach the top of Śnieżka Mountain, which is located on the border between the two countries. This is the highest peak in the Karkonosze and the highest in the Czech Republic. To make the most of your time in Poland, consider staying at the Gołębiewski Hotel in Karpacz, partner of the Tour de Pologne.

3. The hospitality and warmth of a people

The extraordinary mix of cultures has created a strong sense of community and hospitality among the Poles. Visitors to Poland will be surprised by the tenacity and gentleness of a people accustomed to welcoming visitors since the 15th century, when hospitality was a natural, everyday gesture. A well-known Polish proverb goes: ‘Guest in the house, God in the house’ and is often uttered to express joy at the arrival of guests.

4. Feel like a PRO cyclist. Even for one day

Poland has become an attractive cycling destination, with routes through the countryside where you can rediscover the most authentic sense of exploring by bike. In total, there are over 20,000 kilometers of cycling paths. For many years, Czeslaw Lang and the Lang Team have been working hard to promote cycling and an active lifestyle among non-professional cyclists. Every year, amateurs can take part in the ORLEN Tour de Pologne Amatorów race and feel like a WorldTour rider, competing on a section of the Tour de Pologne route and crossing the same finish line as Mohoric, Almeida, Majka or Kwiatkowski

5. The Tour de Pologne, an event that leaves an indelible mark in your heart

The Tour de Pologne is a WorldTour race – with almost a century’s history, of great competitive, historical and scenic value. It is an eagerly awaited event and definitely the most representative of the country’s sports culture. The best riders on the international scene meet here and have developed a deep attachment to the race, both because of the great affection shown by the public and because of the spectacular design of the routes in each stage, from the most innovative to the most traditional. Over the years, many top riders have won the general classification, including Ballan, Sagan, Wellens Evenepoel, Kwiatkowski, Sivakov, Almeida, Hayter and Mohoric. In fact, the stage race is particularly famous for discovering new talents on the WorldTour.