Rising stars to battle in the mountains. The ORLEN Nations Grand Prix ahead

The ORLEN Nations Grand Prix will start tomorrow, the first round of the prestigious UCI Nations’ Cup for cyclists under the age of 23. The roads of the Podkarpacie region will be the battleground for the best riders from 22 countries, including Poland. It will be a true feast for cycling fans!

The ORLEN Nations Grand Prix has become a permanent fixture in the international calendar and has earned a reputation as one of the most important events for young riders. This is where future champions are born. The start lists of all previous editions were full of outstanding talent and riders who triumphed on the race routes soon joined World Tour teams.

The race is also a great opportunity for Polish cyclists – in addition to top national teams like Belgium, France, Denmark, Great Britain, and Slovenia, the competition will feature Poland’s national team and riders from three local clubs. This year, those clubs are GKS Cartusia, KK Tarnovia, and Mostostal Puławy.

“The ORLEN Nations Grand Prix is more than just racing – it’s a chance for young riders to show themselves to the world, gain experience, and take the path to the World Tour. I’m glad we can host top national teams in Poland and show them the beauty of the Podkarpacie region. The route this year will be demanding, but also spectacular, and the finish at Hotel Arłamów always delivers a lot of excitement” said Lang Team General Director, Czesław Lang.

Climbs in Bieszczady Take Center Stage

The cycling celebration in Podkarpacie will begin on Wednesday, May 14 and will last for four days. Riders will face an extremely demanding mountainous route, promising great excitement. This year’s ORLEN Nations Grand Prix will start in Łańcut, from where the riders will head via a mountain route to Jasło, climbing through Izdebki and Błażowa, where a special sprint bonus will be placed. The city of Jasło will host a stage finish for the second year in a row.

On the second day, the peloton will depart from Jarosław and climb the rising roads into the Bieszczady Mountains. The stage will conclude with a tough sequence of ascents and a well-known finish at Hotel Arłamów, where the final two stages will also end. The stages starting in Ustrzyki Dolne and Lesko will be cycling in its purest form – beautiful scenery, high-quality roads, and steep, difficult climbs. Riders will climb, among others, Gruszowa and Fredropol, where on the final day, they will fight for a special bonus. The third stage will also feature a bonus sprint in Lesko.

Future Stars Compete for the Valuable ORLEN White Jersey

The demanding and scenic course will challenge the most talented U23 riders. There are many contenders for the white jersey awarded to the winner of the general classification, sponsored by ORLEN, the Title Sponsor of the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix. Leading favorites include Belgium’s Dockx, Denmark’s Frydkjaer and Clemmensen, Germany’s Jochum, France’s Houcou, and Luxembourg’s Kockelmann and Wallenborn, who performed brilliantly on last year’s tough route. Polish riders, led by the talented Patryk Goszczurny and last year’s 12th-place finisher Filip Gruszczyński, also have a strong chance.

“I’m very happy we have a partner like ORLEN, with whom we’ve been organizing this race since 2019. Thanks to this cooperation, we’ve been able to host an event that was previously missing not only in Poland but across Europe” said Czesław Lang.

The ORLEN Nations Grand Prix is not just a celebration of cycling but also of Poland. Thanks to highlights broadcast on TVP and Eurosport, the event will reach thousands of fans in the country and around the world.

ORLEN Nations Grand Prix 2025 Route:

Stage: 14.05.2025 ŁAŃCUT – JASŁO, 155.8 km
Stage: 15.05.2025 JAROSŁAW – HOTEL ARŁAMÓW, 143.3 km
Stage: 16.05.2025 USTRZYKI DOLNE – HOTEL ARŁAMÓW, 138.6 km
Stage: 17.05.2025 LESKO, LESKO COUNTY – HOTEL ARŁAMÓW, 146.9 km