Finish at Kraków’s Błonia Park for the finale of the 81st Tour de Pologne
The grand finale of the Tour de Pologne will traditionally take place on circuits around Kraków’s Błonia. In recent years, sprinters have dominated here, but surprises have occurred as well. What will happen this time?
Six days of thrilling racing in the 81st Tour de Pologne are behind us. We’ve witnessed battles among the fastest sprinters, fierce climbs tackled by dynamic climbers, and an individual time trial stage. Only one stage remains – from Wieliczka to Kraków, covering a 142-kilometer route.
Sunday’s race will start at the Wieliczka Salt Mine, with the cyclists heading south, passing through the hilly areas near Dobczyce and Myślenice, where the only LOTTO intermediate sprint will take place. After covering several dozen kilometers, the terrain will flatten out significantly. However, this doesn’t mean the end of the fight – the battle for victory will continue until the very last meters. Before that, the cyclists will sprint for the Decathlon special prime in Czernichów and the Soudal special prime in Kaszów.
Shortly afterward, they will enter Kraków, where three 5-kilometer laps are planned. The loop will start on Focha Avenue near Kraków’s Błonia. The riders will then pass by landmarks such as the National Museum and Jordan Park before returning to Błonia, considered the largest urban meadow in Europe. The finish line will be set against the backdrop of Kościuszko Mound towering over the city, where the best sprinters are expected to battle for the win. In recent years, the sprint finishes have been won by the likes of Arnaud Demare, Tim Merlier, Davide Ballerini, Pascal Ackermann, and Peter Sagan. However, there was an exception – three years ago, a breakaway outsmarted the main group, with Julius van den Berg emerging victorious.
“On the final day, we will start from the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The stage will take place in beautiful surroundings, and the finish will traditionally be at Błonia Park. 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, General Director of the Tour de Pologne.
Today’s stage favorites will primarily be the sprinters, especially those who have won previous stages that ended with a group sprint. These include Olav Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), the talented winner from Prudnik, and Tim Merlier (Soudal – Quick Step), who knows the Kraków finish very well. He won here last year and is eager to raise his arms in victory again today.
The Tour de Pologne’s start list features many excellent sprinters, and besides the aforementioned favorites, it’s worth mentioning Jordi Meeus (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe), Casper van Uden (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious), Caleb Ewan (Team Jayco AlUla), and a favorite of the Polish fans – Stanisław Aniołkowski (Cofidis).
Today’s stage will also be special for another Polish rider – Cesare Benedetti – who will end his professional career in Kraków. Thank you for everything, Czarek!