One of Vacansoleil’s more exotic recruits for season 2012 was reining Polish Elite road and time trial champion, Tomasz Marczynski.
Marczynski took out his first pro licence in 2006 with Italian squadra Ceramica Flaminia, the same year he landed second place in the Polish Elite Road Race Championship – an event he has excelled in over the years.
The following year he topped the podium in the Polish championship and rode a diverse programme with Ceramica – from Portugal, by way of most of Europe, to Mexico and seventh in the Olympic test event in Beijing.
In 2008, still with Ceramica, he won a stage in the Tour of Asturias and took second overall in the Classica Alcobendas. The following season he was in Miche-Silver Cross colours, riding a largely Italian programme.
That run of foreign teams was interrupted in 2010 when he headed back to Poland and CCC Polsat, enjoying an exotic programme – a stage win and the overall in the Tour of Seoul, fifth in the Tour of Hainan; but then returning to Poland for third on GC and a stage in the Szlakeim Grodow Piastowskich.
Last season he pulled on the national champion’s jersey in both the elite time trial and road race and still at home took two stages and the GC in the Tour of Malopolska.
He recently took time to talk to VeloNation before his road season got underway.
VeloNation: How did you get the ride with Ceramica Flaminia?
Tomasz Marczynski: When I was 19 years old I went to Italy where I raced for two seasons as an amateur cyclist. I caught the eye of the professional teams and when I was aged 21 I signed my first professional contract with the team Ceramica Flaminia
VN: Did you live in Italy, and did you learn to speak Italian?
TM: Yes I lived in Italy - I still do - and as part of that experience I learned to speak Italian.
VN: You seem to like Spanish races - second in the Classica a Alcobendas and a stage win in Asturias.
TM: I like Spain and the Spanish style of racing, especially when I win or gain the top positions!
VN: How would you describe yourself as a rider?
TM: I would say I am a complete cyclist; I race well on the mountains, I can go hard in the Classics and I do well in the individual time trial. Ultimately I would love to compete in the Giro d’Italia someday.
VN: You were second in the Polish road race in '06 and won in '07 and '11 - how do you prepare for this race?
TM: I set myself a good programme of races up to Polish Championship and in this way I always arrive at the championships in good condition.
VN: You’ve also ridden well in other Polish events, namely the Szlakeim Grodow Piastowskich and Tour of Malopolska. What are those races like?
TM: These are two of the few Polish UCI races which are well organized and have a high level of competition thanks to the presence of foreign teams
VN: Why did you leave Italy to go back to Poland?
TM: After season 2009 I was without a team and CCC offered me a helping hand. For the past two seasons the team has been Professional Continental and we had a very interesting programme of racing.
We participated in many good races around the world – Poland, all over Europe, China and Korea.
VN: So how did you go from there to get the ride with Vacansoleil?
At the beginning of last season I signed a contract with Spanish management company called Velofutur. They helped me find my place with Vacansoleil DCM, for which I heartily thank them.
TM: Where will you live when with Vacansoleil?
For the last two years I have been living in Italy with my girlfriend Federica; we’ll probably remain there for the next few years.
VN: You’ll have two national champion’s jerseys to wear this season, road race and time trial. Have you seen them yet?
TM: Sure they’re fantastic; I will do everything to represent them worthily.
VN: So what are your thoughts about riding in the Pro Tour?
TM: I’m looking forward to riding at the highest world level and full WorldTour professionalism, moving up from Pro Continental level.
VN: Being from Poland, when you were younger did you ever go to watch the Peace Race?
TM: Unfortunately I didn't. However in my first season as a professional cyclist I participated in the final edition of the race and finished 17th in the general classification.
VN: Did you read about the big Polish stars of the 70’s and 80’s - Szurkowski, Szozda and Piasecki - when you were young?
TM: I’m aware of the names, but their careers were before my time…
VN: What is the racing scene like in Poland?
TM: I think in the recent years the Polish cycling has become better and better – much of this is due to the continuing growth of the Tour de Pologne, which attracts the best cyclists from all over the world.
VN: What are your goals for 2012 - are the Olympics part of your plan?
TM: I don’t try to hide the fact that the Olympics is one of the most important events this year and I would like to prepare myself for it as a well as I possibly can. But of course, selection is on a national and not trade team basis.
In that case I can't foresee riding it because I do not understand the criteria of the current national coach-selector.