The sixth stage of the
Tour de Pologne may be called the queen stage, as
it will with no doubt create differences between the riders. Instead of the
traditional hilly circuit around Zakopane, the area will this year host a
12-kilometer time-trial which will see crucial gaps.
And the favourites for it are also very unclear. Officially, the profile
is very uphill, a day suited to the climbers and puncheurs, although the pure
time-trialists will nevertheless find favourable terrain. It will be a very mix
day, with no clear contender in terms of type of rider.
CyclingUpToDate prediction:
Stage 6 (ITT): Gronkow - Stacja Narciarska Rusinski, 11.8Km
The totality of the time-trial will see 11.9 kilometers at 2.4%, with a
slight downhill before the finish. The first 8 kilometers will be slightly
pan-flat, however the following two kilometers will see the gradients go up,
inevitably reaching 10% towards the summit of the climb. The finale in the
Narciasrska Rusisnki ski station will be flat, however at the end of a big and
inconsistent effort.