PREVIEW | Tour de Pologne 2023 stage 6 - Final time-trial to decide overall classification, battle between Mohoric, Almeida and Kwiatkowski

Preview. Stage 6 of the Tour de Pologne is the queen stage. The hilly days saw little gaps, and the overall classification will be decided in a 16.8-kilometer time-trial.

The most likely decisive stage in this year's race could be the time-trial. Katowice hosts a different type of stage this year, a 16.8-kilometer challenge against the clock but one that promises differences and also an opportunity for the specialists- specially as it comes with one week to the time-trial World Championships.

The route is quite different than what you'd expect from a time-trial. It is mostly flat however technical. Early in the route there are good sections to put down the power, but then the last two third include quite a few sections with breaking and accelerations involved. Quite a few, definitely not a constant effort, it can mix things up on the day.

The Weather

As it has been throughout the whole week, the riders will find strong southwestern wind. Here however it won't likely much of a difference, there are plenty direction changes and it's a technical time-trial, without much of a long distance.

The Favourites

Tobias Foss - The World Champion, however not the main favourite. In no way actually, Foss has done some decent time-trials this year but nothing like his Wollongong performance. If he got that on the day he can win, even if not he has good chances of being at the top however, he hasn't battled for the GC.

Stefan Bissegger - Bissegger is on paper the rider who came here with the highest ambitions on the time-trial. The route suits him well and with the world championships right at the door he has the need to show his very best legs. He only performed at the Tour de Suisse this year, with a modest field he has the chances to win here.

We've got a few more riders who have not gone all out in the GC fight, may have the chance to fight for a result here. It's a flat time-trial so it's hard to surprise but there is no man to beat. Geraint Thomas, Thymen Arensman and Lennard Kämna will hope to show good form, whilst the likes of Matteo Sobrero, Josef Cerny and Michael Hepburn may have that extra edge to go for the win tomorrow.

GC battle - The time-trial is the decisive day, the hilly stages only created a selection between those who are able to fight for the win. Matej Mohoric starts the day ahead, 12 seconds of João Almeida, 16 on Rafal Majka, 18 on Michal Kwiatkowski and 26 on the following chasers. The Slovenian has the physique and engine to be a premium time-trialist but it's not a specialty. In 2023 he hasn't done a single competitive time-trial too... In 2022 however he did a few performances where he could defend himself, and he does have a little lead.

The time-trial is technical and this can save him. It's almost pan-flat and so João Almeida won't be able to really profit from the terrain. He will be the main favourite however, Michal Kwiatkowski, the country's TT national champion, also has chances of winning the race. Samuele Battistella, 26 seconds away, a podium contender, whilst Ilan van Wilder may not have good legs after today's crash whilst the rest of the riders will try to save their positions as best as possible. Brandon McNulty starts in 14th spot and may move into the Top5, Mattia Cattaneo also eyeing a climb in the GC.

Prediction Tour de Pologne 2023 stage 6:

*** Stefan Bissegger, João Almeida
** Michal Kwiatkowski, Tobias Foss, Geraint Thomas
* Matteo Sobrero, Lennard Kämna, Brandon McNulty, Josef Cerny, Samuele Battistella,

Pick: Stefan Bissegger