Results Tour de Pologne 2026 stage 5 - UAE turn disaster race around as Jan Christen wins explosive finale in Kocierz
CyclingFriday, 07 August 2026 at 16:28
Stage 5 was a brutal finale at this year's edition of the Tour de Pologne, featuring gradients that went up close to 20%. In this terrain, the puncheurs had a big saying, and it was UAE Team Emirates - XRG's Jan Christen who took the victory and has taken time on race leader Bart Lemmen.
The breakaway of the day was made of Rémi Cavagna, Paul Magnier, Patrick Gamper, Filip Maciejuk, Taco van der Hoorn, Tim Naberman and Dries de Bondt. The group had a mostly flat day on the menu, slowly building up towards the finale in Kocierz at the end of 218 kilometers.
The final kilometer featured 1.5 kilometers at 11% and would be crucial for the overall classification. The breakaway held until the moments before the ascent would begin, as the pace ramped up in the peloton.
The fight for positioning into the final climb was brutal and already put many riders close to the limit. Michal Kwiatkowski entered the climb in front for INEOS but slowly the big names moved up to the front. Neilson Powless pushed the pace on a climb that was so steep that it would not be possible to do an explosive attack.
Jan Christen's winning attack
After the end of the steepest section, with 2.1 kilometers to go, Jan Christen launched a strong accceleration with no response, not even from race leader Bart Lemmen who took the lead of the GC group.
In the final false-flat run-in to the line, Marco Brenner moved up from the GC group and closed the gap on Christen ahead of the finish. The Swiss rider had however slowed down, waiting for the final sprint, and in the final uphill ramp he overtook the Swiss rider once again to take the stage win.
Tour de Pologne 2026 stage 5
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Rafionain-Glas07-08-2026 - A shame that that UAE have tied him inot the team for so long. I guess the guarantee of good steady and high income was persuasive. This young man could have been a genuine threat to Pocagar's dominence in a few years time. Tying up up a potential future threat with a long lucritive contract is an oft repeated story.Cyclingsbestfan07-08-2026
- By any standard other than Pogi Jonas had a fantastic season with 12 wins including the GC in the Giro and two major one week racesmobk07-08-2026
- Apparently you guys don't know much of the mindset of the elite athlete. Not a lot of athletes retire in their competitive prime. And they don't give up just because they can't beat so and so. Lots of elite athletes in the peloton sacrificing just as much as Jonas with far less to show for it.mobk07-08-2026
- Spectacular Kasia!mobk07-08-2026
- Quoting Cyclingnews not a rider...Rafionain-Glas07-08-2026
- Who's talking about a quote? No one is talking about the Giro or Vuelta, that's what Cycling News wrote after the 2025 TdF, after Jonas lost to Pogi the second year in a row. Last year Jonas was producing his best numbers ever but still lost TdF. Even in 2024 Jonas said "My level is higher then in 2023, my numbers are better despite my crash, but Pogi is just too strong." ... So, what's your point?PogiSloFans07-08-2026
- Ridiculous... that's not a quote. How would it be if it says 03/08/2025 but says that Vingegaard had conquered the Giro and Vuelta? At that point, he only had 2 ToursRafionain-Glas07-08-2026
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