Grand Finale of the 81st Tour de Pologne in Małopolska

“Kraków is to the Tour de Pologne what Paris is to the Tour de France, and we want to maintain that tradition,” said Czesław Lang about the final stage of the 81st Tour de Pologne, which will start at the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The day before, the riders will face the royal stage from Wadowice to BUKOVINA Resort, where they will confront the famous climbs, such as the Harnaś Wall and the Bukovina Wall!

The 81st Tour de Pologne will traditionally conclude on the roads of Małopolska. The penultimate stage will start in Wadowice, which hosted the Tour de Pologne in 2020. The cyclists will then head towards the famous loop around the BUKOVINA Resort – an iconic spot on the Tour de Pologne route. The riders will once again tackle the hellishly difficult climbs up the Harnaś Wall and the Bukovina Wall, where in previous years, the general classification has often been decided.

This time could be similar – the sixth stage will be the queen one, full of the tough climbs. Who knows, maybe at the finish line at BUKOVINA Resort, the eventual overall winner will raise their arms in triumph? The list of winners includes amazing cyclists such as Rafał Majka, Remco Evenepoel, Joao Almeida, Simon Yates, and Matej Mohorič.

“The start in Wadowice – we want to honor the city where the great Pole, John Paul II, was born, hence the idea to start from Wadowice. We will pass through the Krowiarki Pass, Szaflary, and enter the loop that cycling enthusiasts know very well. The finish will be at BUKOVINA Resort, and before that, the riders will tackle the climb up Gliczarów, the Harnaś Wall, and the finish will be in the same place where Rafał Majka or Remco Evenepoel have won. This stage will be dedicated to those who may not be completely satisfied with the general classification. It will be the queen stage that can change everything,” said Czesław Lang, the General Director of the Tour de Pologne.

Traditionally, the race will end with a stage finishing in Kraków. The start will be located near the royal city, in Wieliczka, right next to the world-famous Salt Mine. The riders will then head south and enter Kraków from that direction, where they will traditionally complete 3 laps around well-known Błonia. There, we will find out the final stage winner and the overall classification victor. The finish at Błonia has become a permanent fixture in the Tour de Pologne program. In recent years, sprints from the peloton have been won there by Arnaud Demare, Davide Ballerini, Pascal Ackermann, and Peter Sagan. In 2021, a four-man breakaway outsmarted the main group, and the best was Dutchman Julius van den Berg. Will we witness another breakaway’s success in Kraków this time?

“On the last day, we will start from the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The stage will be run through beautiful terrain, and the finish, as usual, will be at Błonia. We say that Kraków is to the Tour de Pologne what Paris is to the Tour de France, and we want to maintain that tradition,” said Czesław Lang.

The route of the 81st Tour de Pologne, as well as the race itself, promises to be exciting. Over seven days of competition, every cyclist will find something for themselves – there will be opportunities for climbers, time-trial specialists, riders who excel on hilly terrain, and sprinters. A great celebration of cycling is ahead!