Poland gears up for cycle tour

Cyclists from all over the world will be heading to Poland this summer as the country’s biggest cycle race gets underway. Thousands of competitors and fans are expected to head to Warsaw ahead of the Tour de Pologne which starts on 2 August.

The event finishes in Krakow six days later after 1,253 km or about 780 miles. That’s the same as cycling from London to Dundee – and back.

The route for this year’s Tour de Pologne is different from previous years and will take cyclists up to the north eastern city of Bialystok, down to Lublin and Rzeszow, and then through the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane, before reaching Krakow.

Acting Director of the Polish National Tourist Office Ewa Binkin said: “This is a great event for Poland and the atmosphere at the start of the race in Warsaw, and on the finishing line in Krakow will be wonderful. There’s also the chance to see the cyclists tackle the Tatra’s in a wonderfully scenic setting.

“The Tour de Pologne is really important in our sporting calendar and has been a regular fixture for the past 80 years. It’ll certainly be a very exciting week to visit Poland.”

The Tour de Pologne is widely regarded as one of the most challenging road bicycle races in Europe and was first held in 1928.