Christian Scaroni becomes new leader of the Tour de Pologne
The sixth stage of the 83rd Tour de Pologne, which covered 125 kilometres around Bukowina Tatrzańska, delivered immense excitement to cycling fans. After a spectacular solo charge in the final kilometres, Frenchman Louis Barré (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) secured the stage victory. Meanwhile, Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team), who finished second, took over the ORLEN General Classification lead.
High-Mountain Thrills and Barré’s Solo Charge
From the very start, the racing unfolded at a blistering pace, averaging nearly 42 km/h. On the numerous climbs—including Sierockie, Słodyczki, and Pitoniówka—Walter Calzoni (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) shined brightest, repeatedly claiming PZU KOM Primes to become the new leader of the mountains classification. The decisive moves came during the four ascents up the iconic Ściana BUKOVINA (1.6 km; 9.5%). With several dozen kilometers remaining, a two-man breakaway formed at the front: Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) and Louis Barré. On the final climb up Ściana BUKOVINA, the Frenchman dropped the Colombian rider and launched a solo effort to the line. Despite an attack by Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) and continuous chase attempts behind, Barré maintained his lead to cross the finish line solo in Bukowina Tatrzańska. Christian Scaroni sprinted to second place, securing the yellow jersey as the new overall leader. Filip Gruszczyński (Poland National Team) was the top Polish rider of the stage, finishing in a strong 23rd place.
Stage Winner’s Statement – Louis Barré “It’s a pity we lost the leader’s jersey, but the time trial is ahead of us and we are still aiming for the general classification win. My attack today came from great form and the desire to make up for yesterday’s third place. Huge thanks to the whole team for their hard work – this is our shared success. Tomorrow I’ll give it my all and we’ll see what the time trial brings.”
New General Classification Leader – Christian Scaroni “To be honest, I didn’t expect to take the leader’s jersey today. At the start of the stage, I didn’t feel my best and suffered quite a bit in the peloton, but the whole team did a massive job for me. Visma controlled the tempo for most of the day, which worked in our favor because Alberto Bettiol and I know we are fast on these short, steep climbs. Before the final lap, we took initiative and pulled hard at the front to set up the finish. It’s a shame that one rider got away and we finished second, but I am extremely proud of the guys. We have the leader’s jersey, and even though tomorrow’s time trial isn’t my specialty, we will definitely give everything to secure the best possible result.
Best Polish Rider on Stage 6 – Filip Gruszczyński “I thought that instead of letting go, I’d take a risk and jump into the breakaway. Besides, it was easier to ride my own pace than to slow down and accelerate again. I had a tough start because I don’t really like dynamic starts and need time to ease into the stage, but Kuba Kaczmarek helped me out on the first kilometers. I survived and made it to the finish. As for my family – mom and dad will definitely be in Kraków. My dad has supported me from the very beginning, and if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here. He’s an amateur cyclist himself, so he doesn’t pretend to be my coach or advisor, but his everyday support is simply invaluable.”
LOTTO Most Active Rider Leader – Radosław Frątczak: “I was worried about making the time limit, but I managed to finish with plenty of time to spare. The fear and the incredible fans gave me huge motivation – thanks to their cheering on the course, my legs hurt less. It was great to see iconic characters along the way, like the Devil or Jack Sparrow. I slept peacefully before the start, my recovery is going well, and I’m hoping for a similar, restful sleep tonight. Tomorrow is the final day, so we’re going full throttle – I’ll give everything I’ve got! See you next year.”
Stage 6 Results:
Louis Barré (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team)
Marco Brenner (Tudor Pro Cycling Team)
Grand Finale at the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine
The final outcomes will be decided during Sunday’s Stage 7. The grand finale of the 83rd Tour de Pologne will feature an individual time trial finishing at the historic “Wieliczka” Salt Mine, where the ultimate winners of all jersey classifications will be crowned. International coverage will be broadcast by Telewizja Polska, Eurosport, and streaming via HBO Max to cycling fans across 65 countries.
