Lublin, Poland – The second edition of the Tour de Pologne Women kicked off with great enthusiasm as a crowd of passionate fans gathered to witness the individual time trial in Lublin. Stina Kagevi emerged victorious, leading the ORLEN general classification, while Poland’s Zuzanna Chylińska secured a commendable fifth place.

The prestigious race, back on the Union Cyciste Internationale calendar after an eight-year hiatus, saw elite female riders from various teams, including three Polish squads, competing in the heart of Lublin. The short but challenging 4.5-kilometer course near Litewski Square was full of surprises.

Stina Kagevi of the continental team Coop – Repsol made the most of the dynamic course, completing it in just 5:41. “I didn’t expect to win at all,” said Kagevi, celebrating her first victory at this level. “Waiting for the result was definitely harder for me than the race itself. During the race, I know that everything depends on me, but when I am waiting, I have no control over anything.”

Her impressive performance earned her the distinctive yellow jersey as the first leader of the ORLEN general classification. Nordic riders dominated the time trial, with Finland’s Wilma Aintila of Lotto Dstny Ladies and Denmark’s Christina Bragh Lorenzen finishing just one and two seconds behind Kagevi, respectively.

Poland’s top rider, Zuzanna Chylińska of TKK Pacific Nestle Fitness, finished fifth, only three seconds behind Kagevi. Chylińska, who recently won the Polish U23 title, expressed her satisfaction with the course. “Today’s course was perfect for me – a slight uphill at the start allowed me to push hard from the beginning, and after the turn, I was able to speed downhill to the finish,” she said. “My coach, Leszek Szyszkowski, was with me the whole time, and thanks to his instructions, I knew exactly what to do.”

Other notable performances included MAT ATOM Developer Wroclaw riders Katarzyna Wilkos, Olga Wankiewicz, and Malwina Mul, who finished eighth to tenth, respectively.

Looking ahead, the competition continues on a challenging, hilly course from Krasnystaw to Kraśnik, with the race still wide open.

Tour de Pologne Women Route (28-30 June 2024):

• Stage 1: 28 June 2024, Lublin – Lublin (Individual Time Trial), 4.5 km
• Stage 2: 29 June 2024, Krasnystaw – Kraśnik, Kraśnicki County, 136 km
• Stage 3: 30 June 2024, Arche Nałęczów – Kazimierz Dolny, 103 km

For more information, visit Tour de Pologne Women.