The Tour de Pologne officially opened with the Top Riders’ press conference held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Conference Centre in Warsaw. World Champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx – Quick-Step), second at the 2012 Tour de Pologne, Ion Izagirre (Movistar) second here in 2013 and 2014, Moreno Moser (Cannondale-Garmin) winner in 2012, Przemyslaw Niemiec (Lampre-Merida) and Fabio Aru (Astana) met an impressive group of reporters gathered around the trophy that will be awarded to the winner of the 2015 Tour de Pologne, which was designed by the artist from Trentino Mirko Demattè.

General Director for the Tour de Pologne Czeslaw Lang was there with the riders. “Edition after edition the Tour de Pologne continues to grow on an international level. To make the race even more appealing and spectacular, we can count on a top level field of starting riders like these champions here today, who serve as the finest spokespeople.”

“I’m here for the start of Tour of Poland,” says Michal Kwiatkowski. “I finished my Tour de France 10 days ago, a little faster than I expected, but as a result I had a bit more recovery before the start of this beautiful race. I spent my time at home. I’m mentally and physically more fresh than before. I’m ready to go. It’s a great race, and riding in front of my public in the rainbow jersey is going to be amazing. For sure I will try to show myself. We brought a strong team here, who are able to support me so we can try to do something great. The race is seven hard days. See you at the end in Krakow!”

“In the last two editions I made it to the podium. It’s a race I like a lot and I hope to do well this year as well. We are starting out with a team that is very strong on all terrains; in addition to figuring in the general classification we would like to win a mountain stage, perhaps with me or with my team mate Intxausti, and for the sprints we can count on Lobato,” says Ion Izagirre.

“This race means a lot to me; it’s great to ride in Poland in front of hometown crowds. I’m coming back to racing here after a month’s rest. My last races were the Tour de Suisse and the National Championship. I think the first two stages will give me a chance to regain my racing rhythm, but then I’m counting on making it to the mountain stages in good shape because I would like to try to achieve some personal goals and go for a stage win,” says Przemyslaw Niemiec.

“I feel good. I recently returned to success with a victory in the Tour of Austria, and this gives me faith and morale for the Tour de Pologne as well. It’s a race that means a lot to me; here in 2012 I had my most important victory. Without obsessing on the classification, the goal is to try to win a stage. We can count on a very competitive team with, in addition to me, Davide Formolo and Davide Villella,” says Moreno Moser.

“I’m coming back here to the Tour de Pologne for the second consecutive year. My last race was the Giro d’Italia. It’s hard to say what my actual condition is; I’ll see how I feel after the first stages but I’m here more than anything to get back into things as I prepare for the Vuelta Espana and the end of the season,” says Fabio Aru.