Stage 5 of the 82nd TdP with Start in Katowice presented at press conference

Today, a press conference was held in the Nikiszowiec district of Katowice to present Stage 5 of the 82nd Tour de Pologne, which will begin in Katowice. The event was attended by Waldemar Bojarun, Deputy Mayor of Katowice, and Czesław Lang, General Director of the Tour de Pologne. Both signed a board featuring the race map in Katowice.

photo S. Rybok UMK

Last Friday, the official route of the 82nd Tour de Pologne was unveiled, including the host cities for each stage start and finish. This year’s fifth stage will kick off in the historic Nikiszowiec district, where today’s press conference took place with the participation of Czesław Lang and Waldemar Bojarun.

During the event, the route of Stage 5 was announced, which will lead through mountainous terrain and finish in Zakopane. Organizers also shared information about planned traffic restrictions related to the race convoy and an information campaign targeted at residents of streets along the route. In Katowice alone, the campaign will include the distribution of 1,200 leaflets and the printing of 600 posters.

Katowice — the rapidly developing capital of the Upper Silesian metropolitan area — has hosted Tour de Pologne riders many times. Victories here have gone to stars such as Marcel Kittel, Fernando Gaviria, Pascal Ackermann, and Tim Merlier. Each year, the races in Katowice attract crowds of enthusiastic fans.

Nikiszowiec, the historic workers’ district known for its iconic red-brick buildings, has also featured in past editions of the Tour. Last year, it hosted the individual time trial, which was won by Italian Mattia Cattaneo.

“Katowice has been connected to the Tour de Pologne for years — we’ve had stage starts and finishes here, both of the mass start and time trials stages. Katowice is a city we always want to come back to. The whole region is developing beautifully. Of course, Tour de Pologne is about sporting excitement, but the race also serves to show how Poland is changing. Katowice is the best example of that, and the local authorities understand this perfectly — we’re very glad to be returning” said Czesław Lang, General Director of the Tour de Pologne.

“This year, we’ll start from beautiful, historic Nikiszowiec and head to Zakopane. I hope that once the renovation works in Katowice are completed, we can return with a stage finish here to showcase the city’s transformations along the route. We invite all Katowice residents to take part in this beautiful stage start” he added.

“Nikiszowiec is a district over 100 years old that tells the story of our city — it’s a former mining settlement built from classic red brick, surrounded by a unique atmosphere. Here you’ll find beautiful red roses and St. Anne’s Church on the Nikiszowiec Market Square. Soon, this district will also become home to a game-tech hub focused on the e-gaming industry” said Waldemar Bojarun, Deputy Mayor of Katowice.

“Our collaboration with the Tour de Pologne has lasted for many years. It’s brought many thrilling races at the highest level, but also great promotion for the city. That’s why Katowice strives to always sign new agreements with Lang Team to host future stages. We’ve hosted starts, finishes, and time trials that raced through Katowice’s streets. For us, the race is not only about top-tier sports competition featuring the best cyclists in the world — it’s also about promotion. No one showcases Katowice quite like the Tour de Pologne broadcast. Alongside the riders, viewers see our stunning architecture — from beautiful housing estates to new landmarks like the International Congress Centre next to the legendary Spodek arena, or the headquarters of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. New developments are constantly emerging in Katowice, including the recently completed Arena Katowice — a sports complex with a stadium for over 15,000 spectators and a sports hall for over 3,000. The project also integrates recreational and transport functions” Bojarun added.

The Tour de Pologne is closely tied to promoting the tourism potential of the regions and cities it passes through. Each year, millions of fans in Poland and around the world follow the race. This year, all stages of the UCI World Tour-ranked Tour de Pologne will be broadcast live on TVP Sport, Eurosport, and the streaming platform MAX, reaching viewers in 65 countries. Stage 5 from Katowice to Zakopane is scheduled for August 8, while the entire race will take place from August 4 to 10.

photo S. Rybok UMK