The second day of thrilling competition in the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix lies ahead. After yesterday’s stage from Łańcut to Jasło, the young riders will head to Jarosław, from where they will ride toward the Arłamów Hotel. There, on difficult, steep climbs, they will fight for victory. Emmanuel Houcou of France will be defending the overall ORLEN general classification lead, but many riders have their sights set on taking the white jersey.
The youth peloton kicked off the 7th edition of the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix yesterday. On the stage from Łańcut to Jasło, the sprinters battled for the win, and the best among them was Emmanuel Houcou. Today, the Frenchman faces the challenge of defending the leader’s jersey in the general classification of the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix, sponsored by Title Sponsor ORLEN.
“I have the jersey now and I want to defend it. It won’t be easy, but I’ll definitely give it 100%” he said.
It won’t be easy, as a tough stage lies ahead. The colorful caravan of the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix will arrive in Jarosław – famous for its fairs – from where it will head toward the Arłamów Hotel. The finish line will be located on a well-known climb – last year, the youth also battled there for victory.
“We can definitely say we’re heading into the mountains. We’re starting in Jarosław and riding through beautifully undulating terrain, then we’ll enter the Bieszczady Mountains. The finish in Arłamów is not easy – it’s a tough climb. This will show us who’s in form and who will be contenders for the overall victory. It’ll be a different finish than yesterday – the peloton will be stretched out and there will be plenty of action” said the race’s General Director, Czesław Lang.
Before the finish in the picturesque scenery around the Arłamów Hotel, there will be no shortage of climbs. On the 143-kilometer route, riders will gradually face tougher ascents, and in the final uphill sections, the best climbers should come to the fore.
Among the favorites are Belgians Aaron Dockx and Jente Michels, Italian Filippo Turconi, Luxembourger Mathieu Kockelmann, Briton Jed Smithson, and of course, yesterday’s winner Emmanuel Houcou. Marek Kapela, who finished fifth in the first stage, also vows to fight to the end.
The race from Jarosław to Arłamów promises to be dynamic and spectacular. The ORLEN Nations Grand Prix can be followed through various media. 25-minute highlights of each stage will be aired in the evenings on TVP Sport (today at 22:35) and race updates are also broadcast on Polish Television, TVN, and Polish Radio stations “Jedynka” and “Trójka,” as well as Onet.
