12.08.2024 Stage 1 – WROCŁAW – KARPACZ – 159,3 km

The 81st edition of the Tour de Pologne will start with a demanding stage from Wrocław to Karpacz on August 12. Riders will set off from the famous Centennial Hall, which will host the presentation of all teams and riders the day before. After a ceremonial section on the roads of Wrocław, the competitors will begin the proper race.

The first part of the stage, measuring just under 160 kilometers, will be flat, but that doesn’t mean it will lack excitement. Riders will compete for the LOTTO sprint bonus in Sobótka, and then – as the terrain begins to rise – for the PZU III category KOM, located at Tąpadła Pass.

Heading towards Karpacz, cyclists will pass through the special Soudal bonus in Świdnica, the LOTTO sprint bonus in Czarny Bór, the PZU II category KOM at Kowarska Pass, and the special Lake Hill bonus in Karpacz. The pace will be very high there, as riders will climb the iconic Orlinek, where Tour de Pologne stages have often ended. Last year, Slovenian Matej Mohorič from the Bahrain Victorious team triumphed there and went on to win the overall classification of the entire race.

The tough finish should provide fans with a lot of excitement and lead to the first selection in the fight for the yellow jersey of the ORLEN general classification leader.

“I am very pleased that Wrocław is on the race route, especially since it is a cycling city. Many cyclists come from here, there was the Dolmel club, where Ryszard Szurkowski, Henryk Charucki, Jan Faltyn, and Jan Brzeźny rode – many champions. The presentation will take place at the Centennial Hall, and the start will be there the next day. After 9 kilometers on the streets of Wrocław, the first stage will begin. The finish will be on the well-known Orlinek climb in Karpacz. The first stage will already impact the general classification,” described the first stage Czesław Lang, General Director of the Tour de Pologne.