2026 Tour of Poland | Can Dutch champion Wilco Kelderman challenge João Almeida?
CyclingSunday, 02 August 2026 at 14:50
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Follow us on GoogleThe Tour de France has only just finished, but the next WorldTour races are already upon us. After Saturday’s Clásica San Sebastián, the Tour of Poland begins on Monday, Aug. 3. A successor to Brandon McNulty must be found, and IDL Pro Cycling looks ahead to the seven-day stage race.
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The Tour of Poland occupies a place on the calendar between the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, which helps explain the varied collection of riders on its list of winners. On one side, there are proven stage racers such as Jonas Vingegaard, João Almeida and Remco Evenepoel. On the other, classics specialists including Matej Mohorič and Michał Kwiatkowski have also won the race.
Last season, the victory went to UAE Emirates-XRG’s Brandon McNulty. The American rode the Tour de France in July and will therefore not return to Poland in 2026.
Recent winners of the Tour of Poland
2025 Brandon McNulty
2024 Jonas Vingegaard
2023 Matej Mohorič
2022 Ethan Hayter
2021 João Almeida
2020 Remco Evenepoel
2019 Pavel Sivakov
2018 Michał Kwiatkowski
2017 Dylan Teuns
2016 Tim Wellens
2024 Jonas Vingegaard
2023 Matej Mohorič
2022 Ethan Hayter
2021 João Almeida
2020 Remco Evenepoel
2019 Pavel Sivakov
2018 Michał Kwiatkowski
2017 Dylan Teuns
2016 Tim Wellens
2026 Tour of Poland - route, stage favorites, and start time
Stage 1, Monday, August 3: Gdynia – Koszalin (234 km)
On paper, the opening stage of the Tour of Poland appears suited to the fast men, although a 1.5-kilometer climb averaging 4.1% late in the finale could disrupt the sprinters’ plans. Under normal circumstances, the sprinters in attendance—or at least some of them—should be strong enough to survive it.
Favorites
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Times
Start: 10:30 a.m.
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Start: 10:30 a.m.
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Stage 2, Tuesday, August 4: Miedzyzdroje – Szczecin (150.8 km)
On day two, the riders finish just one meter above sea level, while the route never rises much higher than 54 meters. This should therefore provide another excellent opportunity for the sprinters in the field.
Favorites
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Times
Start: 1:05 p.m.
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Start: 1:05 p.m.
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Stage 3, Wednesday, August 5: Gorzów Wielkopolski – Zielona Góra (193.5 km)
It is no surprise that so many teams are bringing a strong sprinter to this Tour of Poland. Looking at the course for stage three, we expect the race to end in a bunch sprint for the third consecutive day.
Favorites
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Times
Start: 12:05 p.m.
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Start: 12:05 p.m.
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Stage 4, Thursday, August 6: Zagan - Karpacz (175.5 km)
Stage four finishes in Karpacz, a familiar destination in the Tour of Poland. Paul Lapeira and Thibau Nys are among the riders to have won there in recent years, although this time the peloton must first negotiate a more difficult climb on the approach to the finish.
Favorites
Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious)
Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Paul Lapeira (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious)
Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Paul Lapeira (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Times
Start: 12:15 p.m.
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Start: 12:15 p.m.
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Stage 5, Friday, August 7: Opole – Kocierz (218.5 km)
The fifth stage of the Tour of Poland finishes in Kocierz after more than 218 kilometers of racing, with a finale resembling the Mur de Huy. Shortly before the line, the road rises for 1.5 kilometers at an average gradient of more than 11%—a finish made for the punchers.
Favorites
Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Louis Barré (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Jan Christen (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Louis Barré (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Jan Christen (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Times
Start: 11:20 a.m.
Finish: 4:45 p.m.
Start: 11:20 a.m.
Finish: 4:45 p.m.
Stage 6, Saturday, August 8: Bukovina – Bukovina (125.6 km)
The penultimate stage provides a traditional Tour of Poland selection in and around Bukovina. This time, the riders face a stage of only 125 kilometers, but the route rises and falls almost constantly. It promises to be an interesting and potentially decisive day.
Favorites
Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious)
Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious)
Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Times
Start: 12:40 p.m.
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Start: 12:40 p.m.
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Stage 7, Sunday, August 9: Wieliczka - Wieliczka (12.4 km, time trial)
The Tour of Poland concludes with an individual time trial of approximately 12.5 kilometers. The opening 1.5 kilometers climb gently before the riders follow flatter and slightly descending roads toward the finish, giving the strongest time trialists an opportunity to overturn the general classification.
Favorites
Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step)
Magnus Sheffield (Netcompany INEOS)
Ivan Romeo (Movistar)
Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step)
Magnus Sheffield (Netcompany INEOS)
Ivan Romeo (Movistar)
Times
Start: 1:20 p.m.
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Start: 1:20 p.m.
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Overall classification favourites, 2026 Tour of Poland
The Tour of Poland occupies a place on an extremely crowded calendar, which quickly brings the teams with the deepest rosters into the conversation. UAE Emirates-XRG, for example, brings considerable quality with João Almeida, Jan Christen, Benoît Cosnefroy and Jhonatan Narváez. The race marks Almeida’s return to competition, and an in-form Almeida would normally begin as the leading favorite.
Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe has Aleksandr Vlasov and Finn Fisher-Black, two riders capable of handling punchy climbs, longer ascents and the individual time trial. Visma | Lease a Bike, meanwhile, will look to Dutch champion Wilco Kelderman, who should have opportunities to pursue his own result alongside Louis Barré and Bart Lemmen.
Based purely on their quality, Santiago Buitrago of Bahrain Victorious, Neilson Powless of EF Education-EasyPost, Magnus Sheffield of Netcompany INEOS, Andrea Bagioli of Lidl-Trek and Iván Romeo of Movistar must also be considered. For many of them, however, this will be their first race after a relatively long period away from competition.
Paul Lapeira and Noa Isidore of Decathlon CMA CGM are also on the start list, along with Victor Langellotti and Alberto Bettiol of XDS Astana, Ethan Hayter, Max Schachmann and Steff Cras of Soudal Quick-Step, Polish home favorite Michał Kwiatkowski of Netcompany INEOS and Tudor’s Marco Brenner.
IDL Pro Cycling top picks, 2026 Tour of Poland
Top Favorites: Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG) and Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Dark horses: Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike), Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Jan Christen (UAE Emirates-XRG), and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious)
Long shots: Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), Louis Barré (Visma | Lease a Bike), Magnus Sheffield (Netcompany INEOS), Andrea Bagioli (Lidl-Trek), Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Emirates-XRG), Paul Lapeira (Decathlon CMA CGM), Ivan Romeo (Movistar), and Bart Lemmen (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Dark horses: Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike), Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Jan Christen (UAE Emirates-XRG), and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious)
Long shots: Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), Louis Barré (Visma | Lease a Bike), Magnus Sheffield (Netcompany INEOS), Andrea Bagioli (Lidl-Trek), Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Emirates-XRG), Paul Lapeira (Decathlon CMA CGM), Ivan Romeo (Movistar), and Bart Lemmen (Visma | Lease a Bike)
TV Tour of Poland 2026
The Tour of Poland will be available on HBO Max. Eurosport 1 is prioritizing the Tour de France Femmes, but coverage may also be available on Eurosport 2.
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- I suggest that the contract discussions have been put off not because Del Toro and his representitives expect UAE to sign Seixas, which I consider highly unlikely, but rather because he and his reps don't want to set a ceiling on a new contract until they see the size and length of Seixas' deal. That, or so it seems to me, is the actual reason for Del Toro putting off talks on an extension. Because the idea that Seixas would sign with a team that already has three young world-class GC contenders, including the G.O.A.T., seems far-fetched, if not completely ludicrous.rjb31-07-2026
- No disrespect toward Jonas, but his problem, vis-a-vis Tadej, may not be solvable. Tadej didn't only excell in explosiveness, he also demolished Jonas on a crucial descent. And, lest we forget, Pogi didn't have any trouble winning both the Giro and the Tour last year. Moreover, his explanation regarding poor planning by the Visma team, also strikes me as questionable, given all the experience and expertise in the Visma group. Again, no disrespect toward Jonas, a valid champion and a fine human being.rjb31-07-2026
- The headline mentions a 'menstruation debate,' but the article doesn't mention the debate or even what the issue is. The writer and the editor need to do better.rjb29-07-2026
- - Vamos Tadej! Poetry on wheels. C’est magnifique, bravo campione!robert6528-07-2026
- - Merckx saying no competition feels off—what about Vingegaard in full form, and Roglic on the Giro/Vuelta blocks? There’s competition, just inconsistent due to crashes and form peaks. Still, Tadej is the most versatile since Indurain.breakawaybikerd28-07-2026
- - So Pogacar has five Tours already, but why is that a bigger deal than, say, winning the World Championships? Are the Grand Tours ranked differently?samanthak28-07-2026
- - Brilliant piece. You captured how he meters effort on long climbs and still rips everyone off the wheel. Also love the nod to Tour de l’Avenir—people forget how early he was bossing stages.tourdeforce928-07-2026
- - Slightly sceptical about the “win all three Grand Tours in one season” bit. The calendar density and recovery windows are still brutal, even with modern prep. Would love it, but sounds a tad romantic from Eddy.andrewf28-07-2026
- - Goosebumps reading Hinault and Merckx basically anointing Pogacar. Five Tours by 27 is bonkers. The Alpe d’Huez comparison to Pantani’s time… that’s era-adjusted or raw time? If raw, that’s massive given modern pacing and wind.jeremya28-07-2026
- - Not sure I buy the “Lance had no talent” line. That’s a bit extreme from LeMond. You can condemn the methods without rewriting the guy’s baseline physiology. Still, Pog is the real deal, no asterisks.cadencekingm28-07-2026
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