CYCLING – Team Bahrain Victorious are set to compete in the 82nd edition of the Tour de Pologne, which takes place from today to Sunday next week.
The event is set to start in the Polish city of Wroclaw, where the riders will cover nearly 200 kilometres. The route is mostly flat, with no major climbs, but the first points will be on offer in various classifications. The stage will conclude in Legnica, where a sprint finish from a large group of riders seems the most likely outcome.
On day two, riders who specialise in tougher terrain will take the spotlight. They will face a demanding and intense stage that starts at the Hotel Golebiewski in Karpacz. From there, the peloton heads into the climbs. The final classified crest comes just 20km from the finish – but won’t be the last challenge. With just five km remaining is the Hotel Seidorf intermediate sprint, located on the iconic, unclassified climb to Orlinek.
Stage three will be a slightly longer route, starting and finishing in Wałbrzych. The 159km are mostly ridden in a circuit which includes multiple ascents of both the Przelecz Walimska and Przelecz Niedzwiedzica, both second category, as well as the category one Rzeczka. With gradients exceeding 10 per cent, this stage promises to be a spectacular mountain showdown that could significantly impact the general classification (GC).
Thursday starts in Rybnik and heads towards Ciezyn. In the first phase, the bonus sprint will be contested, after which the climbing begins. Riders will tackle the passes of Przegibek, Orle Gniazdo, and Salmopol, all famous and testing climbs.
The longest stage of this 2025 edition of the Tour de Pologne, on the fifth day, stretches 205.3km from Katowice to Zakopane, which, two years ago, proved decisive in the final GC between Matej Mohoric and Joao Almeida. This year, it features two first cat climbs and 2,763 vertical metres, making it potentially another GC day.
Stage six will finish in Bukowina Tatrzańska – and can rightfully be called the ‘Queen Stage’. Into a relatively short route of just under 150km, organisers have packed six category one mountains.
The individual time trial (ITT) will conclude the race, keeping the suspense alive until the very last minutes. Riders will face a 12.5km route, starting and finishing near the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The course will naturally suit those strongest against the clock, but good climbing legs will also play a part; the stage begins with a near two-km ramp that could significantly impact the outcome.
Bahrain Victorious sports director Michal Golas said: “When I come here I am always optimistic, but this year, especially seeing our roster, I am not afraid to say that we are one of the stronger teams and we will fight for the win. “It’s a race where many details count, and when we say every second counts, that’s the Tour of Poland. Because the classification at the end will be decided by seconds. So, having Pello Bilbao and Antonio Tiberi as two leaders allows us to use different scenarios.
“Obviously, they are coming from the long break. We need to be careful with that, and I think they will improve during the week with their shape, but also we have behind them strong helpers like Edoardo Zambanini, who was in the top 10 last year. And also Jack Haig with his experience. So, in these areas, I think we are quite strong.
“Our flat support with Fran Miholjevic, Roman Ermakov, and Vlad Van Mechelen makes the team a good balance and ready for all scenarios.
“The race itself looks harder this year with more climbs through the week, but in the end, the characteristics of the race are not going to change, and it will still be decided in the final kilometres and decided by seconds, so it is important to win a stage, and that would be the best.
“We will look to take bonus seconds and ride a great ITT, which is also one of our goals. We still stick to the plan, support our leaders, and be ready for every scenario.”
Tiberi, one of the team leaders, knows this race pretty well already. ”I am here for the Tour de Pologne, and it is the fourth time I’ve taken part in this race,” he said. “I come here after a high-altitude training block; my last race was the Giro d’Italia, and yesterday I also raced San Sebastian.
“I must say my legs are finally coming around – day after day, I feel them improving, so expectations are good and I will try to do my very best.”
&uuid=(email))