CCC Polsat Polkowice, Colombia and NetApp-Endura invited along with Polish National Team
With the race just over one month away, the organisers of the Tour of Poland have announced the four teams that have been handed wild card invitations to the 70th edition of the race. As part of the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour, all 19 first division ProTeams will be required to attend, with the four invitees taking the total number up to 23.
Three of the invitations have been awarded to Professional Continental teams, CCC Polsat Polkowice - the only Polish team in the top two tears of the sport - unsurprisingly taking one spot, alongside Colombia and NetApp-Endura. Although it is contrary to usual WorldTour rules - which specify that only ProTeams and ProConti teams may ride WorldTour events - special dispensation for the race means that the fourth invitation has been awarded to the Polish National Team, which will be made up - at least partly - by riders from the Continental level.
“We are quite pleased because the line up that is taking shape is of a very high level,” explained Tour de Pologne general director Czeslaw Lang. “There are already plenty of champions who have confirmed their participation in the Tour de Pologne and in these next few days others will definitely join. To celebrate the 70th edition of the race we wanted to do something extraordinary with the start off from Trentino and I’m sure that the riders and the teams as well will want to honour this milestone by doing their best.
“As far as the choice of Wild Cards,” Lang continued, “we wanted to reward Team CCC Polsat Polkowice which, together with the Polish riders from the ProTeams represents one of the best expressions of our movement, as does the Polish National Team, for whom this race represents the main event of the season. Every year the national riders light up the race and honour this commitment to the fullest.
“The other two teams invited will also definitely know how to stand out. Team Colombia has already shown some important moves, especially when the roads start to climb; after all, the Colombian movement is in second place in the world national rankings. Team NetApp-Endura is a very combative formation as well and in 2012 it also participated in the Giro d’Italia.”
Although there will be 23 teams at the race’s start in Rovereto, on July 27th, the eight-day - seven-stage - race will have the smallest peloton of any WorldTour race this year. As part of a UCI pilot project, each team will have just six riders, instead of the usual eight, meaning there will be a maximum peloton of just 138. This measure will make it difficult for any one team to control the peloton, which is hoped will have an animating effect on the race.
The last two editions have been dominated by Liquigas-Cannondale (now Cannondale Pro Cycling), with Peter Sagan (pictured) winning in 2011 and neo-pro Moreno Moser winning in 2012.
Tour of Poland/Tour de Pologne (WT) July 27th - August 3rd
Stages
Jul 27: Stage 1 - Rovereto to Madonna di Campiglio
Jul 28: Stage 2 - Marilleva Val di Sole to Passo Pordoi
Jul 29: Transfer to Poland
Jul 30: Stage 3 - Kraków to Rzeszów
Jul 31: Stage 4 - Tarnów to Katowice
Aug 1: Stage 5 - Nowy Targ to Zakopane
Aug 2: Stage 6 - Bukinova Terma Hotel Spa to Bukowina Tatrzańska
Aug 3: Stage 7 - Wieliczka to Kraków
Invited teams
UCI ProTeams (invited by right, and required to attend)
AG2R La Mondiale (Fra)
Astana Pro Team (Kaz)
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Cannondale (Ita)
Euskaltel-Euskadi (Spa)
FDJ (Fra)
Blanco Pro Cycling (Ned)
Garmin-Sharp (USA)
Katusha Team (Rus)
Lampre-Merida (Ita)
Lotto-Belisol (Bel)
Movistar Team (Spa)
Omega Pharma-Quick Step Team (Bel)
Orica-GreenEdge (Aus)
RadioShack-Nissan (Lux)
Sky Procycling (GBr)
Team Argos-Shimano (Ned)
Team Saxo-Tinkoff (Den)
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team (Ned)
Professional Continental Teams (Wildcards)
CCC Polsat Polkowice (Pol)
Colombia (Col)
Team NetApp-Endura (Ger)
National Teams (by special dispensation)
Polish National Team (Pol)