Marian Więckowski’s Triumphs – History of the Tour de Pologne Part 2

The years 1954-1957 marked the period of complete domination by Marian Więckowski, who became the first rider to win the Tour de Pologne three times in a row. He recalls his first victory as an incredibly difficult challenge, full of unexpected complications. “It was very hard to do. Right at the start, in Jabłonna, I punctured my tire. The leaders escaped, and I chased them alone for 80 kilometers,” he said. Despite this tough situation, Więckowski did not give up and, despite the setback, chased after the escaping competitors for 80 kilometers. Eventually, he caught up with them, which gave him a huge boost of confidence. “I caught up with them, and then I started to believe in myself, thinking that if I could catch them, I must be really strong,” the cyclist recalled. This conviction allowed him to take control of the race and start playing it on his own terms.
Więckowski always preferred breakaways and gaining an advantage during the stages, rather than relying on sprints at the finish. “I preferred to accumulate those seconds on the stages, slowly building an advantage, rather than counting on finishes,” he explained his tactics. One of the most memorable moments of that race was the stage to Jelenia Góra. “It rained terribly there. I don’t remember many downpours like that. And we had to climb up to Kapela,” he recalled the harsh weather conditions. Więckowski was riding in a group of three when one of his companions struggled to keep up with the pace. “Suddenly, I hear one of my friends, in a faint voice, begging: ‘Maniuś, push me, or I’ll fall, I can’t go any further…'” he recounted. Więckowski helped him by giving him a push, but it cost him a lot of energy. “It ended up with him riding ahead, and I was completely exhausted,” he said. On the final stage, finishing on a stadium with mud up to his ankles, his teammate won the stage, but Więckowski took the lead in the overall classification. “And from that moment on, it all started. Nobody could be let go anymore,” he added, recalling how from that point, the competition became even more demanding, and every second mattered.

In the following years, the Tour de Pologne grew into an increasingly international race. In 1960, the winner was Belgian Roger Diercken, who defeated riders like Stanisław Królak and Jan Kudra. However, Królak had his revenge in 1962, when he triumphed in the race, beating another great Belgian, Roger Swerts. In 1968, Ryszard Szurkowski joined the race, participating in the Tour de Pologne until 1984, winning 15 stages, but never taking the overall victory. The list of cyclists who, despite their great abilities, never won the Tour de Pologne is long and includes names like Królak, Lech Piasecki, Zenon Jaskuła, and Joachim Halupczok.

On the other hand, among those who found the formula for success in the Tour de Pologne, we should mention Andrzej Mierzejewski and Dariusz Baranowski. Mierzejewski, the winner of the race in 1982, 1984, and 1988, and Baranowski, who won in 1991-1993, matched Marian Więckowski’s achievements by winning three consecutive times.

The year 1989 was a turning point, not only for the Tour de Pologne but also for all of Poland. After regaining independence, the race found itself at a crossroads. The new reality presented the organizers with new challenges, and the Tour de Pologne needed a “new beginning” to adapt to the changing times and attract international attention.

In the third part of the History of the Tour de Pologne, we will tell more about the takeover of the organization by the Lang Team, led by Czesław Lang.