81st Edition of the Tour de Pologne UCI World Tour: Wrocław

On Wednesday, July 17, TVP Sport unveiled the route for the 81st edition of the Tour de Pologne UCI World Tour. The largest cycling race in this part of Europe will commence on August 12 from the Centennial Hall in Wrocław and will traditionally end a week later in Kraków. The elite of world cycling will visit Poland, ensuring sporting excitement while riding through the beautiful corners of our country.

On August 12, Poland will become the capital of the cycling world as the 81st edition of the Tour de Pologne UCI World Tour begins. This is the only event in this part of Europe that is part of the UCI World Tour, the “Champions League of cycling.” The day before, the official presentation of the cycling teams will take place at the Centennial Hall in Wrocław.

Lower Silesian Trio

The first three stages of this year’s race will take place in Lower Silesia, with two finishes at the Orlinek climb in Karpacz. The opener will see cyclists start from the Centennial Hall, followed by a 15-kilometer time trial from Mysłakowice the next day. The last stage in this province will be on the Wałbrzych — Duszniki-Zdrój route, where Rafał Majka triumphed last year. Matej Mahorič came in second, and Michał Kwiatkowski third.

“I am very pleased that Wrocław is part of the race route, especially since it is a cycling city. Many cyclists come from here, and the Dolmel club, founded by Mieczysław Żelaznowski, was located here, with riders such as Ryszard Szurkowski, Henryk Charucki, Jan Faltyn, and Jan Brzeźny – many champions. The second stage is a ‘cronoscalata’ (from Italian: ‘climbing time trial’). Remember, this is where multiple Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España winner Alberto Contador began his career by winning an individual time trial,” said the race’s general director, Czesław Lang.

Sprinters in Szozda’s City

The middle part of the 81st edition of the Tour de Pologne UCI World Tour will be a chance for the fastest riders in the peloton to compete for victory. The fourth stage of this year’s race will start in Kudowa-Zdrój and finish in Prudnik, the hometown of the legendary Polish cyclist Stanisław Szozda. During his career, the legendary Szozda became a two-time Olympic silver medalist, won five world championship medals, and triumphed in the Peace Race and the Tour de Pologne.

“The fourth stage will be dedicated to a great cyclist and my dear friend Stasiu Szozda. We start from Kudowa-Zdrój, over 200 kilometers – I think it will be a more sprint stage, and the whole peloton will arrive together,” said Czesław Lang.

The fifth stage will start and end in Katowice, with most of the route leading the peloton along the “Trail of the Eagles’ Nests.” Remember that the Tour de Pologne UCI World Tour also promotes Polish regions, and this one has a lot to offer. Along the way, riders will pass through Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska, Mysłowice, Jaworzno, Rabsztyn, Pieskowa Skała, and Ojców.

Małopolska Finish

The final two stages of this year’s competition will take place in Małopolska. On Wednesday, August 16, cyclists will start from Wadowice and race to the finish line at the BUKOVINA Resort.

“The start in Wadowice – we want to remind people of the city where the great Pole John Paul II was born, hence the idea to start from Wadowice. We pass through the Krowiarki Pass, Szaflary, and enter a lap that cycling enthusiasts know very well. The finish will be at the BUKOVINA Resort, but before that, cyclists will twice tackle the climb at Gliczarów to the BUKOVINA wall. They will also face the HARNAŚ wall, and the finish will be in the same place where Rafał Majka and Remco Evenepoel have won. This stage will be dedicated to those who may not be completely satisfied with the general classification. It will be a royal stage that can change everything,” said Czesław Lang.

The final stage of the 81st edition of the Tour de Pologne UCI World Tour will start at the „Wieliczka” Salt Mine and will traditionally end at the Błonia Park in Kraków, where we will meet the winners of the individual classifications and the overall ORLEN classification winner. Partners of this stage are long-time friends of the Tour de Pologne UCI World Tour – the „Wieliczka” Salt Mine and the city of Kraków.

“We say that Kraków is to the Tour de Pologne what Paris is to the Tour de France, and we want to maintain this tradition,” said Czesław Lang.

81st Tour de Pologne UCI World Tour 12-18.08.2024

Stage 1: 12.08 (Monday) WROCŁAW – KARPACZ

Stage 2: 13.08 (Tuesday) MYSŁAKOWICE – KARPACZ (individual time trial)

Stage 3: 14.08 (Wednesday) WAŁBRZYCH – DUSZNIKI-ZDRÓJ, COS

Stage 4: 15.08 (Thursday) KUDOWA-ZDRÓJ – PRUDNIK

Stage 5: 16.08 (Friday) KATOWICE – KATOWICE

Stage 6: 17.08 (Saturday) WADOWICE – BUKOVINA RESORT

Stage 7: 18.08 (Sunday) „WIELICZKA” SALT MINE – KRAKÓW