The Polish Bike Tour 2026 is finally starting. Well, I don't know, it's only 100 km in my case—and I've already ridden that route twice—but that doesn't mean you don't need to prepare. This is precisely the point in the season when our minds try to trick us, telling us everything is under control, because after all, we've already been there, we already know it. Our bodies usually have a different opinion on the matter and can express it very quickly if we approach the subject too lightly.
Theoretically, everything is already known; it's impossible to write it down, but for the forgetful—or the overworked, like me—a reminder: start at PreZero Arena Gliwice, finish in the same place. The layout is simple, almost textbook, with no logistical complications, no excuses. And that's precisely why this is a start that's easy to ignore.
It's only 100 km. The most dangerous sentence of the season.
The 100km distance looks harmless on paper and doesn't command the same level of awe as longer distances, which require planning on multiple levels. There's no need to schedule sleep, analyze food points, or calculate hours spent in the saddle for half a day. However, that doesn't mean you can ride it "by feel." It's precisely at this distance that mistakes become more frequent and painful, as the pace is faster and the margin for error is smaller. The biggest trap appears right at the start, when emotions and group dynamics can disrupt your rhythm.
The start time means there will be a lot of competitors already on the course, and the pace will be uneven and choppy from the start. It's easy to get caught by someone who's going beyond your capabilities, and even easier to convince yourself that "so far, so good." The problem is that this "so far" usually ends sooner than you'd like. If you feel like you're riding too conservatively in the first few kilometers, you're usually at the right pace. You don't win a race at the start, but you can easily lose it there.
The middle, i.e. the place where the result is made
After a few dozen kilometers, the dust settles after the start and the real ride begins, where repetition and consistency are key. This is the moment when emotions cease to play a role and strategy kicks in, even if it seemed unnecessary before. If your legs are giving way, it's worth finding a group riding at a consistent pace and utilizing the collaborative effort instead of struggling alone. If the day is slower, it's even more important to monitor your rhythm and not react to everyone else's every move.
It's in this part of the race that we begin to reckon with the decisions we made at the start and how we took care of the basics. The most important of these is nutrition, which is still often neglected at 100 kilometers. The body doesn't differentiate between a hundred and two hundred kilometers—it responds to intensity and energy availability. If you don't start fueling early enough, the decline won't be gradual, but sudden and brutal.
Food. Something we ignore when it comes to "only 100 km."
This is one of the most common mistakes that recurs year after year in these types of races. The 100km race seems too short to systematically consider eating, so many people postpone it or react only when the first signs of a lack of energy appear. In practice, this means it's too late to maintain the pace they were capable of before.
A regular carbohydrate intake from the start of the ride helps maintain a stable effort and avoid a sudden crash. Hydration is also an issue that is often overlooked, especially when conditions aren't hot. However, even minor dehydration can significantly reduce performance and accelerate fatigue, which will still be felt at the end of the race.
The ending. The real test.
The last few dozen kilometers are where theory disappears, leaving pure practice and the consequences of previous decisions. If the start was too ambitious, the body will call the shots, and it will do so without warning. If nutrition was haphazard, the pace will begin to fall apart. However, if you've managed to maintain control, there's room to gradually accelerate and take advantage of the fact that others are starting to lose ground.
This is where the differences between riders become most apparent, but they don't stem from maximum power output, but from the ability to maintain pace. The winner is the one who can ride steadily when others begin to slow down, not the one who can briefly go the fastest.
A known route is not an advantage. It's a trap.
Knowing the route provides psychological comfort and a sense of control, but it can easily turn into a false sense of security. Knowing where the more challenging sections are can help you manage your energy, but it also often leads to assumptions that aren't based on your current performance. Just because something went well once doesn't mean it will be the same today.
Every start is a new story and requires a fresh approach, even if it takes place on the same course. Overconfidence can be just as dangerous as a lack of preparation.
Hardware? No philosophy.
On race day, your equipment should be the backdrop, not the star. Everything should work, there should be no surprises, and equipment decisions should be made in advance, not at the last minute. Proper tire pressure, a functioning drivetrain, and a well-thought-out wallet allow you to focus solely on the ride, rather than being distracted by issues that could have been resolved before the start.
The fewer variables, the greater the chance that what is most important, i.e. the leg and head, will be able to work in optimal conditions.
At the end
The first start of the season always presents a certain unknown, even if it seems like everything has been tested and proven. It's a moment of confrontation between plans and reality, quickly revealing whether preparations have been adequate and whether we can translate them into concrete effort.
If we approach these "just 100 km" with the right attitude and consistency, they can become a solid season opener. If not, this seemingly easy distance will quickly remind us that nothing happens by chance in cycling.
Game Plan
START
25.04.2026 08:00
PreZero Arena Gliwice
Start on the Gravel/MTB 500 km route – wave-like from 8:00
Start on the Gravel/MTB 200 km route – wave-like from 9:00
Start on the Gravel/MTB 100 km route – wave-like from 10:00
Start on the Gravel/MTB stage race 2x150 – in waves from 8:30 Saturday and Sunday
Start on the 550 km ROAD route – wave-like from 9:30
Start on the 250 km ROAD route – wave-like from 10:30
XCC Start – Sunday 11:00
Kart Track Cycling – Sunday – 13:00 p.m.
KIDS XCC (Mtb short track) – Sunday – 14:00 PM – REGISTRATIONS COMING SOON
KIDS Kart Track Cycling – Sunday – 15:00 PM – REGISTRATIONS COMING SOON
GOAL
PreZero Arena Gliwice
Text and photos: Grzegorz Radziwonowski