Etixx - Quick-Step has announced the selection that will participate in Tour de Pologne, a seven-stage, 1076km race starting on August 2nd, and ending on the 8th of August.
The 72nd edition of Tour de Pologne, a UCI WorldTour race, will feature a crucial final ITT in Krakow. The 25km parcours is completely flat and not very technical. This could be one for the specialists in the time trial discipline, and could also allow some GC contenders who aren't pure climbers to make a difference in their overall position.
The first stage, 122km in distance, is flat, as are the following two stages. Stage 4, 220km in distance, is a medium mountain stage with the last climb at 37km from the finish. Stage 5, 223km in total, will be a day for the climbing specialists to make their claim for the GC, with eight categorized climbs and an uphill finish. Stage 6, 174km in distance, is the queen stage of the race. There are four laps including the Zab, Sciana Bukowina, and Bukowina Tatrzanska ascents. These stages will set up the final battle for the overall in the time trial on the last day.
"The leader of the race is the UCI WorldRoad Champion Michal Kwiatkowski, who returns to racing in his home of Poland," Sport Director Rik Van Slycke said. "For him it will be a big moment, as it will also be for Michal Golas, our other Polish rider who will be at the start. Kwiatkowski will be surrounded by riders that are fit and ready for this race, like Carlos Verona, Maxime Bouet, David De la Cruz, Gianluca Brambilla, and Gianni Meersman. Last but not least, Petr Vakoc will return to the race after winning one of the most exciting races of the 2014 season, Tour de Pologne Stage 2, which put him in the leader's jersey for several days. We will do our best for a good result with this collective."
"I'm here for the start of Tour of Poland," Kwiatkowski said. "I finished my Tour de France 10 days ago, a little faster than I expected, but as a result I had a bit more recovery before the start of this beautiful race. I spent my time at home. I'm mentally and physically more fresh than before. I'm ready to go. It's a great race, and riding in front of my public in the rainbow jersey is going to be amazing. For sure I will try to show myself. We brought a strong team here, who are able to support me so we can try to do something great. The race is seven hard days. See you at the end in Krakow!"