For many years, the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix has served as a springboard to the highest divisions of world cycling for numerous riders. The most recent edition followed the same pattern – many cyclists who performed strongly in May on the roads of the Podkarpacie region have since secured places in UCI WorldTour and UCI ProTeams. Among them is the winner of the 2025 edition, Austria’s Marco Schrettl.
Since 2019, the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix – held under the banner of the UCI Nations Cup for U23 riders – has attracted leading national teams with talented young cyclists to Poland. Each year, they have competed not only for a place in the history of the Polish race. Owing to its prestigious status, the event has drawn the attention of professional teams scouting for gifted riders who could strengthen their line-ups and, in the future, become stars of international cycling.
Many riders who found success at the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix have followed this very path. Among them are the Dutchmen Olav Kooij and Marijn van den Berg – both of whom now boast victories not only in youth competitions, but also on stages of the Tour de Pologne UCI WorldTour.
A UCI WorldTour future also appears to lie ahead for the stars of the most recent edition. Several months ago, Marco Schrettl signed his first professional contract. The Austrian was in a class of his own at the 7th ORLEN Nations Grand Prix, claiming victory in the general classification. He later impressed on the roads of other countries as well, with the highlight being a bronze medal in the road race at the World Championships. From the next season, Schrettl will ride for XDS Astana Team.
From the top of the ORLEN General Classification, Dutchman Tim Rex (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and Tobias Svarre (Uno-X Mobility) – winner of one of the stages finishing at Hotel Arłamów – have also progressed to the two highest divisions. Another stage winner, Edoardo Zamperini, will join Cofidis. Meanwhile, Emmanuel Houcou, the French rider who claimed a spectacular victory in Jasło, will compete in the colours of second-division team Pinarello–Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.
Professional contracts have also been signed by Luxembourger Mathieu Kockelmann and Poland’s Filip Gruszczyński, who performed particularly well in the previous edition of the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix and also competed in the Polish race in 2025. Kockelmann will strengthen the Lotto Intermarché squad, while the Pole – 12th in the ORLEN General Classification in 2024 – will join the Italian team MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort.
In total, as many as several dozen riders who took part in the 7th edition of the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix will join UCI WorldTour and UCI ProTeams next season. Many others, including Polish riders Dawid Lewandowski and Patryk Goszczurny, will continue their cycling path in development teams. This underlines the consistently high level of competition and the important role the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix plays in the development of talented cyclists.