An inseparable element of the Tour de Pologne UCI WorldTour is the ORLEN Tour de Pologne Amateurs race, held as the Ryszard Szurkowski Memorial. This year, amateurs will tackle a mountain route in Bukowina Tatrzańska, with the iconic climb up the BUKOVINA Wall. The race will take place on August 9 — don’t miss it!
The rivalry in the Tour de Pologne is not only about professional competition, but also includes children and amateurs. An important element of the cycling festival, just like the UCI WorldTour race, is the Tour de Pologne Junior and the ORLEN Tour de Pologne Amateurs. The second of these will take place this year on August 9 on a demanding route in the vicinity of Bukowina Tatrzańska. The competition will again be held as the Ryszard Szurkowski Memorial, in honor of the cyclist who passed away four years ago, a four-time Olympic medalist, three-time Peace Race winner, and four-time Peace Race overall winner.
The ORLEN Tour de Pologne Amateurs route has traditionally been a real treat for fans of riding on two wheels. This year, participants will cover just under 50 kilometers in a picturesque setting. The peloton will start from the BUKOVINA Resort, heading towards the Rusin-Ski Station, where the finish line is planned. The route will not lack challenges, including the famous BUKOVINA Wall in Gliczarów, where for years the world’s best cyclists have competed in the Tour de Pologne UCI WorldTour. The demanding climb in the Tatra Mountains is a true challenge for every cyclist!
The best riders will receive prizes funded by ORLEN Tour de Pologne Amateurs partners — Decathlon, Cofidis, Ekoï, and Vitarade. The great success of each participant will be completing the difficult route, and every finisher will receive a commemorative medal
The ORLEN Tour de Pologne Amateurs race is for all cycling enthusiasts who want to try their hand at the routes where World Tour riders compete. It’s an opportunity to feel the unique atmosphere of the event and experience unforgettable emotions.
“We cordially invite everyone to participate in the ORLEN Tour de Pologne Amateurs, which will take place on the beautiful route in Bukowina Tatrzańska. The race will again be held as the Ryszard Szurkowski Memorial, an outstanding cyclist who left us in 2021. After the competition, we invite you to the finish line for the ‘queen’ stage of the Tour de Pologne!” says Czesław Lang, the General Director of Lang Team.
— I’m extremely pleased that on the 15th anniversary of the Tour de Pologne Amateurs, we’re able to resume our cooperation after a three-year break. It’s a great honor that Czesław Lang chose our location for the first edition of this event. We started with barely 300 riders – this year, we expect around 3,000. That gives me immense satisfaction, said Edward Kuchta, President of the BUKOVINA Foundation, reflecting on the event’s beginnings.
“Cyclists are with us all year round”
As Edward Kuchta points out, the ORLEN Tour de Pologne Amateurs significantly boosts tourism in the region, not only at the BUKOVINA Resort. It is also an excellent promotional opportunity – both in Poland and abroad.
— The whole initiative around the Tour de Pologne Amateurs brings mutual satisfaction and benefit, not only for the resort but for the entire area. This year, we won’t be able to accommodate all guests ourselves – the whole region eagerly awaits the race. During the break years, locals asked if the race would return. It’s a major event for the local community, and for us, it’s a great opportunity to showcase our facilities and surroundings via TV broadcasts and the fans lining the route, he added.
Amateur cyclists are also drawn to Bukowina Tatrzańska by the legendary climbs of the BUKOVINA Wall and the Harnaś Wall – both featured in the professional race. At the same time, BUKOVINA Resort caters to active tourists who prefer two wheels.
— Our hotel infrastructure is ready and now tailored to cycling amateurs. The accommodation and recovery services after stages and training sessions are excellent. Relaxing in thermal waters helps with fast regeneration. After 15 years of partnership, we still see that cyclists stay with us year-round, testing themselves on these tough mountain routes – the BUKOVINA Wall in Gliczarów and the Harnaś Wall in Rzepiska. They may seem daunting, but if you’re prepared, these climbs can be conquered, concluded Edward Kuchta.
This year’s edition of the ORLEN Tour de Pologne Amateurs will take place on August 9.
