Tour de Pologne remains in the World’s Elite – a global brand in constant growth

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has published the final World Tour calendar for 2026, and naturally, the Tour de Pologne is among the listed events. Poland’s national race will take place from August 3 to 9.

Poland is one of only 13 countries worldwide—and 9 in Europe—that have the privilege of hosting a UCI World Tour event, the highest level of professional road cycling. It has held this status since the very beginning of the series, established in 2005 (originally called the UCI Pro Tour).

In 2026, the following countries will organize one-day or stage races that are part of the UCI World Tour (listed chronologically): Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Canada, and China. Among these, only France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Switzerland will have more days of racing than Poland.

Over the years, the Tour de Pologne has become a global cycling brand, recognized for its continuous growth, large-scale logistics, and impressive organization. Each stage’s setup requires 20 trucks to transport the infrastructure and a team of 300 people to assemble it. Securing a 200-kilometer stage involves around 2,000 people—including police, emergency services, and volunteers.

“There’s no other event in Poland that involves so many people or promotes our country abroad as much as the Tour de Pologne.” – said Czesław Lang

Thanks to the broadcast signal produced by Telewizja Polska (TVP) and the recently renewed partnership with Eurosport, coverage of the race now reaches every continent. Eurosport alone broadcasts the event in 65 countries, with additional rights negotiated individually with other broadcasters.

“I raced in the peloton for many years, and I still have friends all over Europe,” says Czesław Lang, the race director. “They watch the Tour de Pologne, then call me to congratulate me on how much Poland has changed—our landmarks, treasures, and new roads. They see it all through our broadcasts. We work closely with the Polish Tourist Organization and with TVP to find, visit, and film the most beautiful places in advance.”

“Let me tell you more,” he adds. “Two French technicians working on the TV production team were so enchanted when we entered the Bieszczady Mountains that they immediately bought land there. They told me they couldn’t imagine living anywhere else when they retire.”

Promoting Poland has become part of the DNA of the Tour de Pologne under Lang’s leadership. His sense of history and deep-rooted patriotism have inspired him to use the race as a way to showcase his homeland and tell its story to the world — including the difficult chapters.

When the race passed by the former German concentration camp Auschwitz, riders stopped to lay flowers and pay tribute to the victims, remembering the tragic history of the
place. The 70th edition of the race was held under the motto “From Italy to Poland, in the footsteps of John Paul II.” In 2014, the event paid tribute to the heroes of the Solidarity movement, stopping at the gate of the Gdańsk Shipyard. These are just a few examples of how the Tour de Pologne intertwines sport with memory and national pride.

All of this would not be possible without the race’s long-term partners, as the budget amounts to several million euros. The Tour de Pologne has consistently attracted some of the largest brands in both Polish and international business. In 2025, the main sponsor was ORLEN, one of the Poland’s biggest companies, with Decathlon and PZU among the official sponsors, and Totalizator Sportowy as a strategic partner.

The Tour de Pologne family, however, is much larger — including other sponsors, media partners, and of course, the host cities. Thanks to their support, the race continues to evolve year after year, introducing new innovations such as a state-of-the-art fleet of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The Japanese automotive giant — known for its long-term strategic partnerships with leading brands — provided more than 40 cars for the 2025 edition, supplied by Toyota Central Europe, Toyota Radość, and Lexus Warszawa Radość.

This year, Grupa Transportowa joined the list of official logistics partners, helping to transport 13 tons of the world’s best cycling safety systems from Belgium, produced by the company BOPLAN. A year earlier, the finish area and podium zone underwent a complete transformation. The new 13-meter-wide foldable stage allows for modern sponsor exposure and features three LED screens — the largest being five meters wide, enabling spectators to share in the excitement of the race long before the riders reach the finish line.

“We do all of this for the people,” said Czesław Lang, the race director. “I feel that few things still bring people together as strongly as sport — and especially cycling, where you don’t need a ticket; you can just stand in front of your own house and watch. The Tour de Pologne is a huge challenge — it’s often difficult to design a route that satisfies everyone or to balance the budget — but when I see those crowds, when I get reports saying that three million people lined the roads, I feel immense satisfaction. That’s what keeps me going,” Lang concluded.

The strength of the Tour de Pologne brand is confirmed by numerous awards. Poland’s national race has repeatedly been named “Event of the Year” in the Przegląd Sportowy Plebiscite. The organizer, Lang Team, has also received prestigious honors such as the Demes Award and the Teraz Polska distinction.