On Friday, 28 June, the second edition of the Tour de Pologne Women cycling race will start with an individual time trial in Lublin. The route of the second stage will lead from Krasnystaw to Kraśnik, and the final stage will be held on Sunday, 30 June, on the route from Arche Nałęczów to Kazimierz Dolny. In addition to the Polish, Danish and Ukrainian national teams, the race will also feature 13 professional cycling teams, including strong contenders like LottoDestiny Ladies, VolkerWessels Women’s Pro and the UAE Development Team.
The excellent cooperation with the Lublin authorities during the planning of the two editions of the Tour de Pologne, in 2021-2022, and the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix, which will pass through the region, resulted in the Lublin province being entrusted with the role of host and co-organiser of the 2nd edition of the Tour de Pologne Women. On the last weekend of June, the rivalry between cyclists will delight not only the inhabitants of the towns and villages through which the colourful peloton will pass, but also the growing number of tourists who are discovering the region’s charm, nature, culture and monuments.
“The Tour de Pologne women’s race, which will take place along the picturesque routes of the Lublin province, is an excellent promotion for our region. The interest of the media and fans in this cycling event is so great that we did not hesitate to offer to host the competitors in our beautiful Lublin region. Thanks to this cooperation we will be able to present our rich architecture, multiculturalism and exceptional monuments on an international level,” said Jaroslaw Stawiarski, Marshal of the Lublin Province.
The Lang team organised the first edition of the race in 2016, long before the women’s stage races of the Tour de France or the Vuelta a España.
“The extremely spectacular rivalry in the women’s peloton means that women’s cycling is developing at an incredible pace, with new races organised by the biggest brands. We organised the first Tour de Pologne Women eight years ago, jokingly saying “before it was even fashionable”. This year we are back with the second edition of the women’s race. For the time being, there will be three stages, but the routes will be very spectacular in the Lublin province, where cycling is very popular among fans,” assures Czeslaw Lang, General Director and President of the Management Board of the Lang Team.
The riders will compete for the victory in the general classification of ORLEN – the main sponsor of the 2nd Tour de Pologne Women. The company, which is the largest sponsor of Polish sport, has been supporting the biggest Polish sporting event – the Tour de Pologne, as well as the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix and other events organised by the Lang team for many years.
On the route of the race there will also be a competition for the blue jersey of the most active LOTTO player.
“We have been associated with the Tour de Pologne brand for many years. I am glad that this prestigious race is coming back in a women’s version and that the LOTTO brand is once again a partner of the next edition of the Tour de Pologne Women. This shows that sport in Poland is constantly developing and our company is proud to support this development in many disciplines. The fans can look forward to a lot of cycling emotions and I wish the competitors success and joy in their sporting rivalry!” said Rafał Krzemień, President of the Management Board of Totalizator Sportowy, owner of the LOTTO brand and official partner of the race.
STAGES OF THE 2ND TOUR DE POLAND WOMEN
The riders will start the individual time trial at 3 Maja Street and after a 4.5 kilometre route, mainly along Racławic Avenue, they will finish at Plac Litewski. The route of the first stage looks easy on the surface, but in reality it is demanding and selective. For the riders who want to count in the ORLEN general classification, it will be important to start the race at the right pace and get an advantage from the first metres.
Stage 1 general programme
- 17.45 Start of the first rider – Lublin, 3 Maja St.
- 19.39 Start of the last rider – Lublin, 3 Maja St.
- 19.45 Last arrival – Lublin, Plac Litewski
- 19.50 Award Ceremony – Lublin, Plac Litewski
The second stage of the race will take riders through picturesque, hilly countryside, and along the way they will compete for two LOTTO speed prizes in Radecznica and Batorz in Janów Poviat.
“The second stage starts in Krasnystaw, then the route leads through the valley of the Wieprz River and on to the charming artificial lake in Nielisz. So far, the terrain is slightly undulating, with small hills. The bigger hills start in Roztocze – from Radecznica. Here and in Batorz, in the Janów district, there are LOTTO bonuses. After the finish in Kraśnik, the route will be very intermittent, with short but steep climbs,” says Ryszard Majkowski, the route coordinator.
The Roztocze, through which much of the second stage will pass, is a land of exceptional natural beauty, densely forested, with a fantastic, colourful mosaic of rolling fields. It has the highest number of sunny days per year in Poland and numerous vineyards, making the Roztocze region known as the Polish Tuscany.
Stage 2 general programme
- 12.20 Neutral start – Krasnystaw, 3 Maja Street
- 12.30 Real start – Krasnystaw, ul. Borowa
- 15.49 Finish – Krasnystaw, ul. Kościuszki 24
- 15.55 Award Ceremony – Kraśnik, Market Square
The third and final stage of the 2nd Tour de Pologne Women will start in Nałęczów, famous for its beautiful spa park, and after 103 kilometres the fate of the ORLEN general classification will be decided in Kazimierz Dolny, a place of numerous concerts, festivals and exhibitions.
“There are three solid climbs between Nałęczów and Skowieszynek and there will be plenty to ride. The climb in Kazimierz Dolny may not be too difficult, although it has a gradient of 11% at the end. However, the riders will ride it up to five times, as that is the number of 15-kilometre laps planned for Kazimierz Dolny. We are expecting a great atmosphere and loud cheering, as the number of tourists in this charming town reaches 100,000 on summer weekends,” assures Majkowski.
The Arche Hotel in Nałęczów will be the strategic point and base where the race caravan will spend the night. The building, which dates back to the 1980s, has been thoroughly renovated thanks to the efforts of the Arche Group, preserving the unique character and authenticity of the architecture of the time.
Stage 3 general programme
- 12.50 Neutral start – Arche Nałęczów, 4B Spółdzielcza St.
- 13.00 Real start – Nałęczów, ul. Charz “A”
- 15.34 Finish – Kazimierz Dolny, Al. Kazimierza Wielkiego
- 15.40 Award Ceremony – Kazimierz Dolny, Market Square
Route of the 2. Tour de Pologne Women, 28-30.06.2024:
- STAGE 1: 28.06.2024, Lublin – Lublin (Individual Time Trial), 4.5 km
- STAGE 2: 29.06.2024, Krasnystaw – Kraśnik, Kraśnicki County, 136 km
- STAGE 3: 30.06.2024, Arche Nałęczów – Kazimierz Dolny, 103 km
