Legendary Backdrop and World Elite: A Truly Exceptional Team Presentation for the 83rd Tour de Pologne UCI WorldTour in Gdynia

GDYNIA, August 2 – World-class cycling arrived in Poland in spectacular fashion. Before the peloton sets off on the route of the 83rd Tour de Pologne UCI WorldTour, fans gathered in Gdynia witnessed a show unlike any in the race’s history. The official presentation of the teams and riders took place on Sunday aboard the legendary destroyer ORP “Błyskawica”.

This year’s edition will be held under the motto “North-South.” The competition spans seven demanding stages totaling over 1,100 kilometers—stretching from coastal Gdynia through Western Pomerania, Lubusz Land, Lower Silesia, and Lesser Poland, all the way to the final time trial at the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Along the way, riders face flat sprints, the iconic climb up Orlinek in Karpacz, and a “royal” mountain triptych with finishes at Kocierz Resort and Bukowina Tatrzańska.

ORP “Błyskawica” Deck Serves as Stage for Peloton Stars

Organized on the centenary of Gdynia granting city rights, the event captivated audiences with its unique setting, creating lasting memories for riders and fans alike. On the deck of the historic warship, the world’s top teams alongside the Polish national squad were officially presented.

“I am deeply moved. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for us being here together today. Organizing a race of this stature is a year-round effort and a massive challenge. It would not be possible without the support of the Gdynia city authorities, the Voivodeship Marshal, the Military, and the Police, whom I thank for their invaluable help in ensuring a safe event,” said Czesław Lang, General Director of the race. “I also thank the fans for turning out in such great numbers. As a Pole, I am proud that we host a WorldTour event. It is not only about sports excitement, but also a fantastic opportunity to promote Poland worldwide. I believe this edition will meet everyone’s expectations.”

Local hosts also expressed their delight at the return of top tier cycling to the city.

“It is a wonderful moment to see Tour de Pologne return to Gdynia after so many years. The historic building of our city and port required courage and determination—traits that perfectly describe these cyclists as well. Today’s start is not just a celebration of sport, but a reminder of our shared values,” emphasized Piotr Gorzeński, President of the Board of the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A. “On a daily basis, we report millions of tons of cargo handled, but today we are thrilled that footage showcasing this spectacle against the backdrop of Gdynia and our port is reaching the world. I wish the fans incredible experiences and the riders success and, above all, a safe finish.”

World Stars Impressed by the Unique Setup

The start list for the 83rd edition is packed with high-profile names. Contenders for the ORLEN General Classification and individual stage wins include former winners and top riders such as João Almeida, Michał Kwiatkowski, Ethan Hayter, Jhonatan Narváez, Wilco Kelderman, and world-class sprinters led by Paul Magnier.

The coastal scenery and the organizers’ creative setup left a lasting impression on the key contenders.

“My main goal for this race is to support Paul Magnier on the sprint stages and work for the whole team. Of course, individually I hope for a strong performance and a good result in Sunday’s time trial,” noted Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step), former winner of the race. “I am competing in this race for the third time, and I always come back here with great pleasure. As usual, the organization is at a very high level. The team presentation itself was a unique event—living just 100 meters from the venue allowed us to simply walk over from the hotel, and presenting the team on board a ship was a truly great and original idea.”

The Polish national team received a warm welcome from the crowd. One of the team leaders shared his ambitious goals for the coming week:

“As every year, I come here to fight for the Most Active Rider jersey. I’ve won it three times already and once won the mountain classification, so my mindset is very strong. We’ll see what the race brings, but I’ll give it my all,” promised Patryk Stosz. “I’m a breakaway rider, but our national team is very well balanced – we also have strong riders for flat stages and bunch finishes, like Marceli Bogusławski and Jakub Kaczmarek. I’ve never taken part in such a spectacular presentation before. When the signal sounded, it made a huge impression – Czesław Lang organized it brilliantly. It’s probably the best presentation I’ve ever attended at Tour de Pologne.”

Global Coverage

Coverage of the 83rd Tour de Pologne UCI WorldTour will be broadcast by Telewizja Polska, with the signal reaching international audiences via Eurosport and the HBO Max streaming platform. As a result, cycling fans in 65 countries will follow the action set against Poland’s scenic landscapes. Stage 1 from Gdynia to Koszalin gets underway on August 3.