We take a look at the route for the Tour de Pologne which takes a new position in the calendar for 2012.
Preview of the 69th edition
The Tour de Pologne - or Tour of Poland - has been part of the UCI's WorldTour since the series started in 2005 and continues to grow with every edition.
To avoid a clash with the Olympic Games and maximise television coverage, the race has been moved forward slightly this year and will take place during the Tour de France.
While the main focus of the cycling world will be on events in France, expect plenty of interesting racing over in Poland at an event that continues to grow in profile with every edition.
The race will take place entirely in southern Poland this year and offers something for everyone, including several tough mountain stages. In a departure from recent years the race begins with an extremely tough test which should shape the GC from the outset.
Stages
Tuesday 10 July: stage 1 - Golebiewski Karpacz to Jelenia Gora - 179.5km
A tough opening day starts from the ski resort of Karpacz in the Karkonosze mountains. The riders make four laps of a clockwise route that includes the category one Karpacz Orlinek and a descent into the city of Jelenia Gora, where the stage finishes.
Wednesday 11 July: stage 2 - Walbrzych to Opole - 239.4km
The longest stage of the race covers a gradually undulating route but flattens out in time for a potential bunch finish. From a starting point in the city of Walbrzych the route heads south-east towards the Czech border. A gradual drag up into Opole for the finish should see the strongmen sprinters prosper.
Thursday 12 July: stage 3 - Kedzierzyn-Kozle to Cieszyn - 201.7km
The peloton head south for a tough test which features some tough circuits in and around Cieszyn. Central to the day the riders must tackle the first category Kubalonka climb twice before dropping down into the technical finishing circuit. Three laps of 6.3km come to a head with a steep uphill finish.
Friday 13 July: stage 4 - Bedzin to Katowice - 127.8km
One for the sprinters, stage four begins with a series of three out-and-back laps around the start in Bedzin. From there, and with a break likely clear, the riders skirt around into Sosnowiec. The sprinters’ teams should begin to come to the fore as the race closes on Katowice. Six flat circuits of 8.1km should produce a bunch kick.
Saturday 14 July: stage 5 - Rabka-Zdroj to Zakopane - 163.1km
Breakaway specialists will be ready to attack on stage five on a test which features six categorised ascents. The race heads south out of Rabka-Zdjoj, turning back east at Czarny Dunajec. The first significant test of the day comes in the form of the first cat Wierch Olczansio (56.1km). More climbs should have a cumulate effect as the stage wears on. Two hefty laps of 39.9km heading over the Glodowka and Droga do Olczy should produce a worthy winner in Zakopane.
Sunday 15 July: stage 6 - Bukowina Terma Hotel Spa to Bukowina Tatrzanska - 191.8km
The penultimate stage sees the riders tackle five loops of a 38.4km course which features a painful-looking shark tooth profile. Barely a moment of flat terrain will see the strongest riders come to the fore. Five ascents each of the first category Zab and Gliczarow Gorny climbs should thin out the bunch significantly ahead of the finish.
Monday 16 July: stage 7 - Krakow to Krakow - km 131.4km
The final stage sees the race go down to the wire in Krakow. Time bonuses could be all-important with the race being decided on the finish line in 2011. An early third category climb should not disrupt the sprinters on the road to a spectacular finish.
Tactics
With a mixture of tough climbing terrain and sprint tests the team will look to battle on two fronts. Sergio Henao and Lars-Petter Nordhaug will look to feature on the climbs while Ben Swift will be on the prowl for victory in the sprint finishes.
Team Sky history
The team produced a strong performance in the GC in 2011 with Peter Kennaugh taking fifth overall while Steve Cummings backed that up with ninth. Edvald Boasson Hagen is the Team Sky rider with the best overall position in the race, occupying the bottom step of the podium back in 2009.
