2023 Matej Mohorič
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RACE OF THREE ANNIVERSARIES

The 80th edition of the Tour de Pologne began on July 29 in Poznań, and later the peloton rode through Leszno, Karpacz, Wałbrzych, Duszniki-Zdrój, Strzelin, Opole, Pszczyna, Bielsko-Biała, Katowice, Zabrze and ended the race in Krakow on August 4, 2023.

The race was remarkable because of the triple anniversary. The riders set off on the route of the 80th edition, but also 95 after the very first race and 30 years after Czesław Lang became the organiser of the Tour de Pologne. The event was a unique exciting spectacle for fans of cycling.

“We prepared a complete route. By this I mean that it was selective and riders with different profiles could perform on it. The Tour de Pologne gives an opportunity for everyone to show off." said Czeslaw Lang. The Moscow Olympic vice-champion was right. And Polish fans kept their fingers crossed until the very end for Michal Kwiatkowski, who was fighting to win the general classification.

“I had two plans. One was to come here, the other was to start in San Sebastian and the world championships, but in the end I chose the Tour de Pologne. I'll try to win a stage or even aim for the general classification." said Slovenian Matej Mohorić, right before the start of the race. The Bahrain Victorious rider didn't throw his words to the wind and since he put on the yellow leader's jersey at the finish of the second stage, he didn't take it off again until the end. "Kwiato", however, gave a real show of fight and steadfastness, as he tried until the very last meters. In the end, it was enough for third place, with Portuguese Joao Almeida in second. The top three, after a week of racing, fitted in 17 seconds!

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Rafal Majka also gave a great show! The UAE Team Emirates rider flashed at the finish line in Duszniki-Zdrój, where he finished first. “I wanted to win the stage. I succeeded and I am happy. I did it for the Polish fans, for my family, for my wife, for my children Oliwier and Maja. I have been away from home since May 12 and this victory was for them," he said and added: “ When you have a firecracker under your feet, you have to go!”

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Other heroes were the winners of the other classifications. In the mountain classification, Markus Hoelgaard (Lidl-Trek) was the best, Patryk Stosz was the most active, Mohorić also won the sprinter classification, and UAE Team Emirates riders were the best as a team.

“Every year we try to create a race that will be remembered for years to come, and I think this edition was just that. The spectacle was taken care of by the riders, who know that our race is an open event, where you can't let up for a moment, because everything is decided by seconds. There is another distinguishing feature of the Tour de Pologne and another year has confirmed it. I'm thinking, of course, of the fans. About three million people along the route makes a person get energised. The fans were everywhere, and I know that it works on everyone's imagination." Czeslaw Lang said after the race.

2022 ETHAN HAYTER
2021 JOÃO ALMEIDA
2020 Remco Evenepoel
2019 Paweł Siwakow
2018 MICHAŁ KWIATKOWSKI
2017 DYLAN TEUNS
2016 TIM WELLENS
2015 Ion Izagirre
2014 Rafał Majka
2013 Pieter Weening
2012 Moreno Moser
2011 Peter Sagan
2010 Daniel Martin
2009 Allesandro Ballan
2008 Jens Voigt
2007 JOHAN VANSUMMEREN
2006 STEFAN SCHUMACHER
2005 KIM KIRCHEN
2002 – 2004
1999-2001
1996-1998
1993-1995
1947-1992 IN THE SHADOW OF THE PEACE RACE
1928-1939 BEGINNINGS