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The 72nd Tour of Poland starts today, with it being seen by a few riders as a nice warm-up event for the Vuelta. For some, it may be the start of a block of racing leading into the final grand tour of the season.
It is always an interesting race that offers up some exciting racing, mainly due to the fact that there are often surprise winners in the race. Many of the top riders will skip the race in favour of races closer to the Vuelta, thus allowing second string climbers and punchers a chance to win the race overall.
Previous winners of the race include Rafal Majka, Pieter Weening, Moreno Moser, Peter Sagan and Daniel Martin.
This year’s route will see the riders race over the traditional seven stage route, with a mixture of flat, punchy, and medium mountain stages, with the final day being a time trial.
Stage 1
The first stage of the tour sees the riders complete a 12 kilometre circuit ten times around the city of Warszawa. The circuit itself is quite technical in nature, especially in the final three kilometres, whilst also including a short sharp climb which will potentially mean that the punchy sprinters will get a chance today.
For many of the riders, this will be their first chance of competitive riding for potentially a few months, so expect the racing to be quite nervous.
For mine, a rider like Caleb Ewan or Juan Jose Lobato, who can climb fairly well, especially on the short rises should do well here. Ewan has had a very solid season, dominating the Tour of Korea. However, he has not ridden at World Tour this season, so it will be intriguing to see whether he can make the step up and produce a performance.
Other names to look out for on this stage include Gianni Meersman, Andrea Guardini, Niccolo Bonafazio, Sacha Modolo, Marcel Kittel (would have him as the top favourite, but nobody knows what form he is bringing into this race), Giacomo Nizzolo, Tom van Asbroeck, Kris Boeckmans, Matteo Pelucchi and Kevin Reza.
Stage 2
A lumpy day greets the riders on their 146 kilometre trip from Czestochowa to Dabrowa Górnicza. The race profile shows that today’s stage will either be going up or down, not sharply that it will break the race apart, but enough to make the riders feel heavy at the end of the stage.
Another sprint is expected, with the finishing circuits being a little less punchy then they were the day before. We may therefore see the resurgence of one out of form German, Marcel Kittel.
The Giant-Alpecin rider has had a horrid year to date, having only completed on 22 race days to date. It would take something special for him to win here in his first race back, but the field he is up against is fairly weak for someone of Kittel’s class.
Maybe I am more hoping he does well, not so much expecting it to occur.
Other riders to look out for include Caleb Ewan, Gianni Meersman, Andrea Guardini, Niccolo Bonafazio, Sacha Modolo, Giacomo Nizzolo, Tom van Asbroeck, Kris Boeckmans, Matteo Pelucchi and Kevin Reza.
Stage 3
Another day, another set of hilly circuits in Poland, but this time, the hills are far more prevalent, and are very close to the finish. The final three kilometres sees the riders tackle a short little hill but again, another sprint is expected.
However, with such lumpy days in the legs for riders who may not have ridden for a while, expect the potential that different winners pop up over the first three days of racing.
Riders to look out for on today’s stage include Caleb Ewan, Marcel Kittel, Gianni Meersman, Andrea Guardini, Niccolo Bonafazio, Sacha Modolo, Giacomo Nizzolo, Tom van Asbroeck, Kris Boeckmans, Matteo Pelucchi and Kevin Reza.
Stage 4
The general classification favourites start four days of crucial racing if they want to receive the overall honours at the end of the race. Today’s stage is a long grind with 220 kilometres of racing on the menu, with three climbs in the back half of the race to contend with.
Out of the next two climbing stages, this should be the least decisive, as the final climb finishes with still just under 30 kilometres till the finish. Therefore, expect a punchy sprinter to prosper.
There is one category two climb at 130 kilometres into the stage, which is the longest climb of the day, but it is gradual, with a short descent involved. The next two climbs are category ones, which should be where the fully fledged sprinters get into difficulty, and thus split the race in favour of the climbers and hilly riders.
For mine, home town favourite Michael Kwiatkowski may be the man to beat today, if his teammate Gianni Meersman cannot get over the climbs in the final group.
Other riders that could factor into today’s stage include Diego Ulissi, Juan Jose Lobato, Caleb Ewan and Moreno Moser.
Stage 5
Another day of over 220 kilometres greets the riders, with more climbs on the agenda; another crucial day for the general classification hopefuls. The riders enter the mountains of southern Poland, tackling eight categorized climbs before a short uphill finish in Zakopane.
Today’s stage features more circuits, with an extremely hilly course greets the riders in the final 140 kilometres. Today’s is a day for the genuine mountain climbers you would think. Especially as this is a week tour, the racing should be thick and fast and thus, cause time gaps to occur.
The final 10 kilometres sees the riders tackle the steep climb at the town of Gublawoska. The climb is only two kilometres, but is steep at over 10 percent, and is then followed by the final rise to the line.
The Italian Fabio Aru should show his strength today. After a strong Giro, he will be looking to start his preparation for a tilt at the Vuelta title.
Other riders that could feature on today’s stage include Robert Kiserlovski, Illnur Zakarin, Michael Kwiatkowski, Sergio Henao, Diego Ulissi, Przemyslaw Niemec, Darwin Atapauma, Benat Intxausti, Lawson Craddock, Riccardo Zoidl, Jurgen van Den Broeck and Kenny Ellisonde.
Stage 6
The final mountain test see the riders tackle a gruelling set of circuits around the Bukowina. At 174 kilometres, this stage is the shortest of the three mountain stages, but it will be the hardest, as the riders have the pain of the previous five days in their legs, whilst also having to tackle the climbs of both the Zab, and the Sciana Bukovina on multiple occasions.
The Zab is a four kilometre climb that averages out at 6 percent. Then, a short descent in sues until the riders have to climb Sciana Bukovina, which is equally as a difficult. Today’s stage should once again be dominated by Fabio Aru, who will look to gain time on his rivals before the time trial tomorrow.
Other riders that could feature include Robert Kiserlovski, Illnur Zakarin, Michael Kwiatkowski, Sergio Henao, Diego Ulissi, Przemyslaw Niemec, Darwin Atapauma, Benat Intxausti, Lawson Craddock, Riccardo Zoidl, Jurgen van Den Broeck and Kenny Ellisonde.
Stage 7
The final test to decide who is the champion of this year’s Tour of Poland is a 25 kilometre time trial around the surrounding streets of Krakow. It is an out and back course along a relatively flat profile, so the genuine time trial specialists should come out to play.
This stage will put pressure on certain general classification contenders to take time in previous stages if they feel their time trialling ability may be a burden to their overall aspirations.
Riders to look out for today include Marcej Bodnar, Michal Kwiatkowski, Dario Cataldo, Vasil Kiryienka, Alex Dowsett, Benat Intxausti, Damien Howson and Kristof Vandewalle.
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