With a little over three weeks remaining until the start of the Vuelta, the international peloton continues to prepare for the third Grand Tour of the season by competing in various stage races around Europe.   The Tour of Poland is within the sights of many riders, and will be an objective for multiple teams who will race over the roads between Warsaw and Krakow, covering a little more than one thousand kilometers in the course of seven stages.  

The race offers a parcours of varied terrain that will give riders of all characteristics, from sprinters to escape artists as well as puncheurs and climbers, many chances to shine.  IAM Cycling will bring a crew ready to adapt with a mix of experienced riders as well as young hopefuls, and all intent on having a say in how the Tour of Poland unfolds.  

“We are coming to this race with several goals in mind,” Vicente Reynes, one of the team’s road captains, confirms.  “First of all, we would like to win a stage with Matteo Pelucchi.  We will have several riders who will be able to stay with him for as long as possible and to help him in his effort; I am thinking in particular of Roger Kluge and myself in this role.  

"Many of the riders on the team are coming off an altitude training camp in Bernina, Switzerland with Marcello Albasini.  We were able to train well and I hope our motivation and commitment will bear fruit. 

"Then more personally, I have spotted a stage that could suit me very well, with a small uphill finish.  I feel good, and would be very pleased to have the chance to raise my arms in victory again.  I know the finish, so I figure why not.  But I think that I won’t be the only rider with this idea.”

There certainly will be a lot of competition to consider.  The Polish course will suit the characteristics of many types of riders, which indicates that there should be a very open battle among the favorites. 

“In my opinion, the guy who ends up winning the overall on Saturday in Krakow will have to have a wide mix of qualities,” Reynes, who comes from Mallorca, believes.  "The last stages are demanding, and I can definitely see a puncheur winning.  So it’s important to be able to climb, but also he’ll have to manage his efforts very well for the last stage which is an individual time trial on Saturday.  The winner will have to have a diverse, though not necessarily incompatible, collection of strengths.”