Preview Tour of Poland 2023 | Can Arensman match 2022 knockout performance in ironclad field?

The Tour of Poland is a significant event on the cycling calendar, but unfortunately, its image has been somewhat tarnished in recent years due to incidents like the death of Bjorg Lambregt and the crash of Fabio Jakobsen. Let's hope that all seven stages in the 2023 edition go off without a hitch. IDLProCycling.com will be considered for updates and information.

Practical information Tour of Poland 2023

• Saturday, July 29 through Friday, August 4
• Participants
  
• Classification: 2.UWT

In this article

• Latest winner
• Course, times and favorites
• Favorites ranking
• TV information

Last winner Tour of Poland

2022 Ethan Hayter
2021 Joao Almeida
2020 Remco Evenepoel
2019 Pavel Sivakov
2018 Michal Kwiatkowksi
2017 Dylan Teuns
2016Tim Wellens
2015 Ion Izagirre
2014 Rafal Majka
2013 Pieter Weening

Stage 1 - Saturday, July 29, 2023: Poznań - Poznań (183.7 km)

The first stage is definitely one for the sprinters. While there is still a categorized hill in the opening stage (a mountain jersey should be handed out after all), it should not be a problem for the really fast men.

Climbs
15.0 km: Suchy Las (700 meters at 3.4%)

Times
Start: 12:15 p.m.
Finish: around 4:31 p.m.

Favorites
Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step)
Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma)
Sam Bennett (BORA-hansgrohe)

Stage 2 - Sunday, July 30, 2023: Leszno - Karpacz (202.9 km)

The classification riders who have ambitions in this stage will have to get their act together on day two. The run-up is quiet, but three climbs lie ahead in the finale. The last one is tough, with average gradients of well over nine percent in the middle section!

Climbs
163.0 km: Przelecz Pod Srednica (3.3 km at 5.7%)
183.0 km: Sosnowka (4.9 km at 5.6%)
203.0 km: Karpacz (3.7 km at 6.9%)

Times
Start: 1:35 p.m.
Finish: around 6:31 p.m.

Favorites
Sergio Higuita (BORA-hansgrohe)
João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)
Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal-Quick Step)

Stage 3 - Monday, July 31, 2023: Wałbrzych - Duszniki-Zdrój (162.3 km)

On day three, the punchers and attackers seem to have the best chance for success. Part one of the stage features solid climbing, allowing a strong breakaway group to ride away. The finale then revolves around a 7.8-kilometer climb at 3.8 percent, guiding the riders towards an ascending finish in Duszniki-Zdrój.

Climbs
27.5 km: Walim (3.3 km at 7.2%)
49.5 km: Przelecz Jugowska (7.7 km at 5.1%)
149.0 km: Zieleniec (7.8 km at 3.8%)

Times
Start: 12:35 p.m.
Finish: around 4:32 p.m.

Favorites
Sergio Higuita (BORA-hansgrohe)
Koen Bouwman (Jumbo-Visma)
Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ)

Stage 4 - Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023: Strzelin - Opole (199.1 km)

Sprinters, are you still here? Day four of the Tour of Poland is upon you again, with only one categorized climb along the way, giving you a free chance to shine.

Climbs
37.5 km: Strzegomiany (1.9 km at 2.9%)

Times
Start: 12:00
Finish: around 4:37 p.m.

Favorites
Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step)
Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma)
Sam Bennett (BORA-hansgrohe)

Stage 5 - Wednesday, August 2, July 2023: Pszczyna - Bielsko-Biala (198.8 km)

A wonderful stage for the attackers, as the classification men won't waste unnecessary energy a day before the time trial trying to keep this together. The terrain goes up and down basically all day from kilometer thirty, so we expect a fierce battle between the best attackers. In the final lap, which has to be done three times, there is an uncategorized climb of 2.3 kilometers at four percent.

Climbs
73.5 km: Zameczek (3.8 km at 6.4%)
106.0 km: Ochodzita (2.0 km at 11.4%)
141.5 km: Salmopol (6.0 km at 6.3%)

Times
Start: 11:50 a.m.
Finish: around 4:34 p.m.

Favorites
Michal Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers)
Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious)
Andreas Kron (Lotto-Dstny)

Stage 6 - Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023: Katowice - Katowice (16.6 km, time trial)

The time trial on day six will shake up the standings considerably. It's one for the real specialists, who can keep the pedals turning with sheer power. Unfortunately, the poor climbers will take a solid hit.

Climbs
No.

Times
Start first rider: 1:23 p.m.
Finish last rider: around 4:42 p.m.

Favorites
Tobias Foss (Jumbo-Visma)
Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers)
João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)

Stage 7 - Friday, Aug. 4, 2023: Zabrze - Kraków (166.6 km) 

Anything can always happen on the final day of the Tour of Poland, and this year will be no different. The organization has a somewhat shorter stage in store, with a chance for the breakaway to make something of it along the way. Normally, the sprinters should be able to survive this, but who knows...

Climbs
105 km: Witanowice (1.3 km at 5.6%)
130.0 km: Kaszow (800 meters at 5.1%)

Times
Start: 2:45 p.m.
Finish: around 6:35 p.m.

Favorites
Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step)
Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma)
Sam Bennett (BORA-hansgrohe)

Tour of Poland 2023 classifications

The organization has had a poorer starting list in the past, but they cannot complain about this one. Defending champion Ethan Hayter will not be there, but INEOS Grenadiers will send last year's runner-up Thymen Arensman. Add to that the return to the peloton of Geraint Thomas, and you already have two favorites for the classification, especially with the time trial on day six. Both men are normally preparing for the Vuelta a España, which begins on August 26. So good legs in Poland should already be there.

The big challenger to the INEOS block appears to be UAE Team Emirates. With João Almeida and Brandon McNulty, there are two names on the list who could be thinking about overall wins here. Both men can compete with the best in terms of time trial, as can Tobias Foss. How good is the Norwegian from Jumbo-Visma after not racing for three months? At Jumbo-Visma, they actually rarely let anyone start if the form is not there...

BORA-hansgrohe has two big names at the start. Lennard Kämna has a great time trial, and with good legs, should be able to compete for the podium. The same may not be true for Sergio Higuita, who has a lot of arrivals to his liking. With the necessary bonification seconds, he might be able to limit the damage somewhat.

Scrolling on, we stop at Bahrain Victorious. With Damiano Caruso, they have a dangerous outsider there for a nice classification, especially since the Italian seems to have embraced attacking since his second place in the 2021 Giro. In the Giro, he ended up finishing neatly fourth. Will he be in top form heading into the Vuelta as well?

Other outsiders? Lenny Martinez will showcase his talent at Groupama-FDJ, and DSM-Firmenich also has a young talent in Max Poole. At Soudal-Quick Step, they are going for a GC with Ilan Van Wilder, who can step out of the shadow of leader Remco Evenepoel once in Poland. Van Wilder climbs like a big one as a luxury rider and can time trial very well. What can he show against the big names? Finally, Jayco-AlUla has another man in Eddie Dunbar who can make a difference uphill.

Tour of Poland 2023 on television

Ziggo Sport is the channel to tune into these days, so only for subscribers.... Eurosport has no broadcasting rights. Via Ziggo, you can turn on each stage from 3:15 p.m. on Ziggo Sport or channel 13. The two stages finish around 6:30 pm, live broadcasts start at 5:25 pm.