PREVIEW | Tour de Pologne 2024 stage 4 - Merlier, Pedersen, Kooij and Meeus among top sprinters for expected bunch sprint
Cycling
From the 12th to 18th of August we have on the road the Tour de Pologne. It collides with other big races in the calendar but every year it features a quality startlist with all kinds of riders. The seven stages will provide plenty opportunities in the only World Tour stage-race that comes between the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana. We preview stage 4.
The fourth day of racing starts immediately with a climb right out of Kudowa-Zdrój. 6.8 kilometers at 5.2% is hard enough for quality riders to go up the road and form a strong group that can fight for the stage win and steal the win from the sprinters. The first half of the stage is very rolling and features a few ascents that are not easy. But it does get easier towards the end.
Stage 4: Kudowa-Zdrój - Prudnik, 194.7 kilometers
The final half of the day is mostly flat and honestly with very little to mention. The riders head east with a bunch sprint expected in Prudnik. It's not a technical bunch sprint at all, but a regular one. There's no downhill or uphill, only very slight bends in the final kilometers but one where the leadouts will wait until as late as possible to move to the front.
The Weather
Map Tour de Pologne 2024 stage 4
Western breeze from the west growing during the stage. This will provide for a tailwind in the final kilometers and clear tailwind sprint, good for the heavyweights. Small possibility of rain showers later on the day.
The Favourites
Tim Merlier - Master of the first bunch sprint in any stage-race. It's almost incredibly how often the Belgian succeeds in that specific timing. Hence, this being the first bunch sprint, I believe he can keep this habit going. Bert van Lerberghe is here as the trusted right-hand man but Soudal - Quick-Step can also support him with Paul Magnier.
Olav Kooij - Visma don't come with a team heavily focused on the Dutchman, but he has proven in the past that he does not need it. Tosh van der Sande is an interesting leadout man to at least have him in position. Kooij can handle the climbs but even on these flat pure sprints he can fight for the win with the very best.
We have Phil Bauhaus who will be helped by Andrea Pasqualon and Fred Wright; Jordi Meeus who will have luxury leadout men Danny van Poppel and Ryan Mullen; Pascal Ackermann who has Jake Stewart after the duo thrived at the Tour de France; Lidl-Trek who have Mads Pedersen supported by two-time stage winner Thibau Nys and Edward Theuns...
The likes of Caleb Ewan, Sam Bennett, Gerben Thijssen, Alberto Dainese, Casper van Uden, Laurence Pithie and Stanislaw Aniolkowski are also expected to take part in the sprint and honestly a victory can come for any of these riders, it's quite a strong sprinter field.
Prediction Tour de Pologne 2024 stage 4:
*** Tim Merlier, Mads Pedersen
** Jordi Meeus, Olav Kooij, Phil Bauhaus
* Pascal Ackermann, Caleb Ewan, Sam Bennett, Gerben Thijssen, Casper van Uden, Stanislaw Aniolkowski, Alberto Dainese
** Jordi Meeus, Olav Kooij, Phil Bauhaus
* Pascal Ackermann, Caleb Ewan, Sam Bennett, Gerben Thijssen, Casper van Uden, Stanislaw Aniolkowski, Alberto Dainese
Pick: Tim Merlier
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- It would be great if the World Champion's jersey could be rotated among McNulty, Simmons, and Jorgenson. They threaded the needle perfectly. If each hadn't done exactly what he did, exactly when he did it, the race would have gone to one of the more heralded superstars. That said, how nice that this humble and hardworking guy gets his moment in the sun.
MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
Loading
The route for the 81st Tour de Pologne has been revealed! 😍🚴🏻♂️ In less than a month, the 81st Tour de Pologne will begin in Wrocław. The competition will traditionally last 7 days and conclude at Kraków's Błonia, where we will learn the winners of various classifications. CHECK
Write a comment