Stage 1: Wroclau - Karpacz, 157.2 kilometers
The race starts off with a hilly stage where the overall classification contenders will be tested. Overall, 157 kilometers on the menu and most of them relatively uneventful, with a few small ascents - categorized and uncategorized, but ultimately only in the final kilometers will we have real action.
It is a small hilltop finish in Karpacz. All about positioning. There is a 2.9-kilometers ascent at 4.5% which gradually becomes more steep up to the intermediate sprint which comes with only 4.5 kilometers to go. Shortly after there is a small ascent and there will be fight into that section and the bottom of the final climb.
The final hilltop is a gradual rise to the line as well, to end in a (possibly long) sprint. It's 3.2 kilometers at 6.5%, most of the climb in big-ring gradients, but in the final kilometer it goes up to 10%. The final 500 meters are the toughest and we may see small gaps at the finish.
Stage 2 (ITT): Myslakowice - Karpacz, 15.4 kilometers
Day 2 of the race is a time-trial, 15 kilometers long with a false-flat start and the same finale as the opening stage. There is a 2-kilometers ascent at 5% and the final kilometers will be familiar to the riders. It is a day for full time-trial setup as the first kilometers will be fast but even the climbs aren't really steep enough to justify any meaningful change.
The final hilltop is a gradual rise to the line as well It's 3.2 kilometers at 6.5%, most of the climb in big-ring gradients, but in the final kilometer it goes up to 10%. The final 500 meters are the toughest. It's not the easiest of time-trial to pace honestly, but there should be energy saved for the finale as there is road to make some important differences on that final climb.
Stage 3: Walbrzych - Duszniki-Zdrój, 155.5 kilometers
A very difficult day starting and finishing in locations that the average European will struggle to pronounce. But for the overall classification riders, they have no option but to know exactly what they are facing because this could be the most dangerous day of the entire race. Over 3100 meters of climbing in 155 kilometers with lots of climbing right from the start.
The depart in Walbrzych features right away a 1.3-kilometer ascent at 7.4% and 2.6Km at 6.9%... After that there are three second category ascents (and a difficult non-categorized one) which will make any chase difficult. Strong groups may gain advantage that will be hard to bring back. The most difficult of which is 2 kilometers long at 9.7%. Towards the final third of the stage there is a small section where it is possible to reorganize before the final ascents, but it is a difficult one to control.
The ascent to Karlow is 7 kilometers long at 5%, finishing with 18.5 kilometers to go, with a plateau right after the top. After a small descent the peloton still faces an explosive hilltop finish where in one way or another differences are promised and a thrilling finish is likely. The final 900 meters average 8% and the gradients go up to 14% before gradually coming down to the finish line.
Stage 4: Kudowa-Zdrój - Prudnik, 194.7 kilometers
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.
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.
Stage 5: Katowice - Katowice, 187.3 kilometers
A very simple day for the peloton in Poland. A day for the sprinters, starting and finishing in Katowice where there is very little that can prevent the expected outcome. There is only a small loop in the route before ultimately returning to the city through the same roads. What follows is a technical finale.
It's not a particular final kilometer that is difficult, but instead the whole final 9 kilometers. Right at this entrance to the city there are several corners that will stretch out the peloton quite a bit and there will be a fight for positioning to this spot.
From 5 to 2 kilometers to go there are several corners as well where the same will happen and tension will be constant. Speeds will also be very high after an easy and flat day. The final corner is placed with 700 meters to go, a sharp left-hander into the big avenue finale.
Stage 6: Wadowice - Bukovina Tatsanska, 182.9 kilometers
The queen stage? Perhaps some days earlier in the week were more dangerous, but I argue this is the most difficult one. Another 3100 meters of climbing but we have got difficult climbing this time around close to the end, with very steep gradients also included. Early in the day however there is also a set of four climbs, each hard enough for strong climbers or classics riders to go up the road. It could be important for the overall classification but also the fight for the stage win.
The riders then climb up Sciana Bukovina (2.6Km; 7.8%) and Sciana Harnas (2.8Km; 6.4%) that summit with 60 and 46 kilometers to go. They will be hard, but taking into consideration the finale, there will likely not be too much action yet on these ascents. Sciana Bukovina is the main climb of the day, the average is not too high but the gradients go over 20% on the climb and the final time up it sees the summit finish with only 12 kilometers to go. It is an ascent where differences can be made, with no doubt.
After the summit there is a small plateau and then a very fast descent into the base of the final climb directly. This is the ascent to the Bukovina Tatsanska which is 4 kilometers at around 5%. The first 2 kilometers average around 7% and it does provide the chance for attacks to still happen. It then flattens out but, if a sprint is to happen, it will still have some uphill gradients to the line in a smooth straightforward road.
Stage 7: Kopalnnia Soli Wieliczka - Krakow, 143.1 kilometers
The final stage of the race starts in the city of Wieliczka, location of the famous salt mines that are one of Poland's most famous natural monuments. The peloton will go away from the Krakow area but returns for the finale where... A breakaway could succeed due to the many small ascents in the first half of the day, but the finale will be completely flat with the sprinter teams likely to be able to control the race.
The finale will then consist of three six-kilometer laps just outside the city center, which will be very fast. Three 90-degree corners mark this, it is similar to a criterium. The final corner will come with 1.8 kilometers to go and the finale will be completely straightforward and pan-flat.
