Preview Tour of Poland 2024 | Strong UAE Team aims to challenge Vingegaard again

August is packed with racing, and the WorldTour stage race Tour of Poland is a prominent part of it. Cycling enthusiasts are just catching their breath from the Olympic Games and already need to focus on the Tour de France Femmes, the Vuelta, and certainly the Polish race as well. IDLProCycling.com takes you along for the ride.

The Tour of Poland has been part of the WorldTour for quite some time and boasts an impressive list of winners, including big names like Remco Evenepoel, Joao Almeida, Matej Mohoric, and, of course, home riders Michal Kwiatkowski and Rafal Majka. Jonas Vingegaard's name isn't on that list, but he did have his breakthrough in Poland in 2019. This year, the Dane will make his return.

Latest winners Tour of Poland

2023 Matej Mohoric
2022 Ethan Hayter
2021 Joao Almeida
2020 Remco Evenepoel
2019 Pavel Sivakov
2018 Michal Kwiatkowski
2017 Dylan Teuns
2016 Tim Wellens
2015 Ion Izagirre
2014 Rafal Majka

Tour of Poland 2024: Course, stage favorites and schedule

Stage 1, Monday, Aug. 12: Wroclaw - Karpacz (156.1 km)

The Tour of Poland kicks off with a stage designed for punchy riders. The race will start in Wroclaw and cover 156 kilometers to Karpacz, where the finish is set on a 3.2-kilometer hill with an average gradient of 6.5 percent. This is where the first time gaps could emerge, as we saw in 2023 when eventual overall winner Matej Mohoric won this stage.

Climbs
53.5 km: Przelecz Tapada (5.0 km at 3.3%)
136.8 km: Przelecz Kowarska (7.3 km at 2.7%)

Favorites
Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek)
Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious)
Jan Christen (UAE-Team Emirates)

Times
Start: 12:50 p.m.
Finish: 4:27 p.m.

Stage 2, Tuesday, Aug. 13: Myslakowice - Karpacz (15.4 km, individual time trial)

On the second day, we'll be back in Karpacz, but this time after a 15.4-kilometer individual time trial. With the same 3.2-kilometer hill at a 6.5 percent gradient to tackle, it's clear that riders will need both strong time-trial skills and climbing legs. Past winners of this stage include legends like Alberto Contador (2003) and Thomas Dekker (2005).

Climbs
None

Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious)
Tim Wellens (UAE-Team Emirates)

Times
Start: 1:38 PM (first rider)
Finish: 4:42 PM (last rider)

Stage 3, Wednesday, Aug. 14: Walbryzch - Duszniki-Zdroj (156.5 km)

The Tour of Poland is known for sticking to familiar routes, and this year is no exception. Day three features a challenging finish that has become a hallmark of the race. Last year, local favorite Rafal Majka won after a grueling stage on the steep final kilometer into Duszniki-Zdroj. With over 3,000 meters of climbing, who will take the win this time?

Climbs
28.9 km: Przelecz Walimska (4.5 km at 5.4%)
50.9 km: Przelezc Jugowska (12.0 km at 4.2%)
67.6 km: Gora Swietej Anny (2.0 km at 9.7%)
94.1 km: Karlow (7.0 km at 5.1%)

Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Oscar Onley (dsm-firmenich PostNL)
Rafal Majka (UAE-Team Emirates)

Times
Start: 12:35 PM
Finish: 4:29 PM

Stage 4, Thursday, Aug. 15: Kudowa-Zdroj - Prudnik (195.3 km)

The sprinters haven't traveled to Poland for nothing after all. Despite a tough start, a showdown among the fast men is expected in Prudnik after 195 kilometers of racing.

Climbs
76.8 km: Przelecz Jaworowa (7.2 km at 4.2%)

Favorites
Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)

Times
Start: 12:15 PM
Finish: 4:29 PM

Stage 5, Friday, Aug. 16: Katowice - Katowice (187.6 km)

Katowice has long been a key stage in the Tour of Poland, and 2024 is no different, with both the start and finish in this Polish city. Although the route features some rolling terrain, a sprint finish is still likely.

Climbs
96.6 km: Ojcow (2.1 km at 5.0%)

Favorites
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike)

Times
Start: 12:30 PM
Finish: 4:29 PM

Stage 6, Saturday, Aug. 17: Wadowice - Bukovina Resort (183.2 km)

On the same day the Vuelta a España kicks off in Lisbon, the Tour of Poland's traditional queen stage to Bukovina Resort will take place. After 183.2 kilometers of tough climbing, we'll likely see the riders who will be leading the GC.

Climbs
123.5 km: Sciana Bukowina (2.6 km at 7.9%)
136.5 km: Sciana Harnas (2.8 km at 6.4%)
171.0 km: Sciana Bukowina (2.6 km at 7.9%)

Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Romain Bardet (dsm-firmenich PostNL)
Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R)

Times
Start: 12:00 PM
Finish: 4:34 PM

Stage 7, Sunday, Aug. 18: Wieliczka - Krakow (142.1 km)

Just as Paris is the final destination for the Tour de France, Krakow is the grand finale for the Tour of Poland. The sprinters will have one last chance to shine, while those in contention for the overall podium will focus on finishing safely.

Climbs
None

Favorites
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)

Times
Start: 1:40 PM
Finish: 4:37 PM

Favorites general classification Tour of Poland 2024

Note: The start list isn't finalized yet, so this section might change.

When we look at the preliminary start list for the Tour of Poland, one rider stands out: Jonas Vingegaard from Visma | Lease a Bike. The Danish cyclist had his breakthrough moment in 2019, during his first year with the Dutch team, when he won a stage in this very race. Although he lost the overall lead the next day, it was the first sign of his immense talent. Now, five years later, he's back, supported by teammates like Attila Valter.

Several teams are banking on their depth to challenge Vingegaard. UAE-Team Emirates is bringing two former winners, Tim Wellens and Rafal Majka, along with strong riders like Felix Grossschartner, Diego Ulissi, and Jan Christen, all of whom have the potential to compete for a spot in the overall standings in a tough race.

Bahrain Victorious will field former winner Matej Mohoric and Pello Bilbao. Both riders had a disappointing Tour de France due to illness and are looking to use this Polish stage race to regain their form. dsm-firmenich PostNL will be relying on Oscar Onley and Romain Bardet, two of their top climbers.

Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe has a very dangerous outsider in Maximilian Schachmann. Additionally, we should keep an eye on punchy riders like Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R), Andrea Bagioli, Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek), and Jakob Fuglsang (Israel-Premier Tech).

According to IDLProCycling.com, who are the favorites for the general classification in the Tour of Poland 2024?

Top favorites: Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious)
Outsiders: Oscar Onley (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Tim Wellens, Rafal Majka (UAE-Team Emirates) and Maximilian Schachmann (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Long shots: Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R), Felix Grossschartner, Diego Ulissi, Jan Christen (UAE-Team Emirates), Attila Valter (Visma | Lease a Bike), Andrea Bagioli, Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek) and Jakob Fuglsang (Israel-Premier Tech)

TV coverage of the 2024 Tour of Poland

Ziggo Sport holds the broadcasting rights for the Tour of Poland and will air a daily broadcast starting at 2:00 PM on its main channel, Ziggo Sport. The stage finishes in Poland are consistently scheduled around 4:30 PM.