Over the last few years the Tour of Poland has associated its development with the UCI ProTour by enthusiastically supporting the UCI’s vision for quality, more modern and financially sound cycling. The organisers of this race who undoubtedly play a key role in Polish national sport have most certainly contributed to its most recent growth.
For 16 years this race has been managed by Czeslaw Lang’s dynamic team and fully deserves its place among the main cycling events of the season, and I am certain that in the future this event will become even more significant.
In 2008, the Tour of Poland celebrated a double anniversary: eighty years since its creation and its sixty-fifth edition. In this 2009 season, marked by the introduction of the new UCI World Calendar, the race has been brought forward by a month and will now take place in August.
I am convinced that this change will enable the Tour of Poland to make it more valuable in technical terms and that the spectacle that we will see will once again live up to the expectations of all cycling fans with whom we look forward to sharing the excitement of a week of racing.
To conclude, I would like to convey my sincere congratulations to the organisers of this event and to thank all those who have supported them in their efforts including sponsors, volunteers, local authorities and the media. Everybody’s contribution is vital in order to guarantee the success of the Tour of Poland that we are about to witness together.
Once again, before finishing this brief message, I would like to convey my greetings to the riders and to wish them the very best of luck and every success.
