The climbs of the Bieszczady Mountains, the legendary BUKOVINA Wall and the rolling hills of Kashubia – this year’s ORLEN Lang Team Race series delivered sporting challenges and unforgettable emotions. In Arłamów, Bukowina Tatrzańska and Bytów, thousands of amateur riders shared their passion for cycling, competing in the professional setting familiar from the Tour de Pologne. The standout riders of the series were Artur Sowiński and Kamila Wójcikiewicz-Płotkowiak, who claimed victory at all three events.
Three events, three different faces of road racing and one shared idea: to make cycling accessible to everyone keen to test themselves in the peloton. Organised by Lang Team and Czesław Lang, the series once again combined competition with encouraging physical activity and showcasing some of Poland’s most beautiful regions. For some, the goal was a podium finish; for others, improving their personal best or completing a demanding course. At the finish line, every one of these achievements mattered.
Hotel Arłamów – a challenging opener in the Bieszczady Mountains
This year’s series began with the race in Arłamów. Riders faced a 69-kilometre course starting and finishing at Hotel Arłamów and winding through the picturesque Bieszczady hills. The climbs to Gruszowa, Kalwaria Pacławska and Koniusze, also familiar to professionals competing in the Tour de Pologne UCI WorldTour, set a high bar from the outset.
Artur Sowiński won the men’s overall classification ahead of Patryk Gieracki and Janek Miazga. Kamila Wójcikiewicz-Płotkowiak was the fastest woman, followed by Sonia Cięciel and Marta Motylewska.
The opening round showcased everything that makes ORLEN Lang Team Race distinctive: a demanding course, committed riders and a cycling festival atmosphere. Winners in the individual categories received the series leader jerseys from EKOÏ, while the race village brought together riders, spectators and event partners.
BUKOVINA Resort – amateurs on the roads of champions
The second round of the series was the ORLEN Tour de Pologne Amatorów – Ryszard Szurkowski Memorial, held on 8 August. Thousands of cycling enthusiasts from Poland and abroad lined up in Bukowina Tatrzańska, also paying tribute to one of Poland’s greatest cyclists.
Riders completed two laps of a 24.6-kilometre circuit passing through Szaflary, Leśnica and Groń, among other locations. The legendary BUKOVINA Wall in Gliczarów provided the biggest spectacle, with enthusiastic crowds cheering the riders on. The final test was the demanding climb to the finish at the Rusiń-Ski Resort.
For the second time in this year’s series, Artur Sowiński and Kamila Wójcikiewicz-Płotkowiak proved the fastest. The men’s winner completed the course in 1:19:50, while the women’s winner recorded a time of 1:34:27.
Robert Kubica also returned to the peloton. After taking part last year, he had promised to return to the Tatra roads if his professional commitments allowed. He kept his word, sharing the cycling challenge with his fellow participants.
The close connection to the Tour de Pologne, the mountain scenery and the professional organisation gave amateurs a taste of top-level racing. It was a day of sporting ambition, pushing personal limits and satisfaction at the finish line.
Bytów – the finale on Czesław Lang’s home roads
The grand finale took place on 19 September in Bytów, in the area where Czesław Lang first discovered cycling. Nearly a thousand amateur riders tackled undulating courses with repeated climbs, choosing between the 108-kilometre MAXI distance and the 41-kilometre MINI.
On the longer course, Artur Sowiński and Kamila Wójcikiewicz-Płotkowiak once again confirmed their outstanding form. The newly crowned masters world champions capped a successful season with their third victories in this year’s series. Jan Miazga and Kacper Wiszniewski completed the men’s podium, while Sonia Cięciel and Emilia Graban took the remaining podium places in the women’s race.
Bartosz Krukowski and Monika Kasica triumphed over the MINI distance. Mikołaj Kawa finished second in the men’s race, with Antoni Lebiedowicz third. Iga Bazan and Anna Równicka also earned places on the women’s podium.
The field included representatives of ORLEN Team and the Polish Border Guard, which is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its establishment this year. The sporting programme also featured the Parade and the Race in the Footsteps of Czesław Lang, inviting children and families to get involved. The Bytów finale thus combined the excitement of the peloton with the joy of introducing the youngest participants to cycling.
Professional organisation, a shared passion
Each of the three events had its own character, but all shared the same standards: carefully prepared courses, professional timing, race safety arrangements and podium ceremonies. The event infrastructure familiar from the Tour de Pologne created a distinctive setting, while age-group classifications allowed participants to compete against their peers.
The race villages were another important part of the series, providing places to meet, cheer on the riders and enjoy activities organised by the partners. Thanks to the commitment of Title Sponsor ORLEN, the host communities, sponsors, supporting services and organising teams, participants could focus on what mattered most: riding and the excitement of competition.
ORLEN Lang Team Race 2026 once again demonstrated how many people are united by a passion for cycling. From Arłamów, through Bukowina Tatrzańska, to Bytów, together we created a season filled with ambitious goals, closely fought racing and mutual support.
Thank you to all the participants, spectators, partners and hosts for three exceptional cycling events!