There will be five fractions in the race dedicated to new talent, which will start in Prostějov on 15th May.
The countdown is on to the new edition of the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix 2024, which will kick off the Nations’ Cup circuit from 15th-19th May and will once again see the best of the U23 cycling scene in action.
Once again, ORLEN – the event’s main sponsor – will give the champions of the future the chance to fly the flag for their country, competing in a challenging and selective five-stage route through the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland.
Here are all the stages in detail.
Stage 1: Prostějov – Bouzov
The sixth edition of the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix opens with a stage with a demanding profile, including a final circuit with the Hartinkov GPM, which will be repeated twice. Starting from the old town of Prostějov in the Czech Republic – famous for its textile industry – the riders will have to ride 135 kilometres to Bouzov, dominated by its 14th century castle, the birthplace of King George of Bohemia. A fascinating place that will be the setting for the first holder of the general classification jersey.
Stage 2: Přerov – Kohútka
The second stage starts in Přerov, a town with an important archaeological site where the remains of Homo sapiens from the Paleolithic period have been found. The ski resort of Kohútka – which marks the border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia – will be the site of the race’s second uphill finish. The riders will cross the finish line after a challenging 109-kilometre ride, which could have an impact on the final classification.
Stage 3: Tvrdošín – Štrbské Pleso
The third stage takes place entirely in Slovakia, in the Tatra Mountains. Starting from Tvrdošín, the birthplace of painter Mária Medvecká, the riders will cover 120 kilometres before tackling the longest climb of the edition, the 1347 metre high Štrbské Pleso. The roads of this challenging climb will be a battle between the best climbers of the 2024 edition of the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix.
Stage 4: BUKOVINA Resort, Niedzica – Jasło
The race arrives in Poland for the fourth stage, which starts in Niedzica, a tourist town on the shores of Lake Czorsztyn dominated by the picturesque Dunajec Castle. It will be difficult for the teams to keep the race close on the longest stage of this edition, which is characterised by a particularly nervous course. Indeed, the riders will reach the rural town of Jasło after covering an impressive 174 kilometres.
Stage 5: Lesko, Powiat Leski – Hotel Arłamów
This final stage covers 148 kilometres. Starting in Lesko, the fifth stage – which runs entirely through the Carpathians – will not include a single metre of flat terrain. The men’s classification will battle it out all the way to the finish at the Arłamów Hotel, where the strongest rider will be crowned the winner of the 2024 edition.
From 15th-19th May, the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix brings together some of the world’s top U23 riders on an unusual and demanding course.
List of ORLEN Nations Grand Prix teams 2024
National Teams:
Kazakhstan, Belgium, France, Spain, Great Britain, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Czech Republic, Portugal, Switzerland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Estonia, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Hungary, Israel
Clubs:
GKS Catusia, TC Chrobry Głogów, Mostostal Puławy
