IPT looks to “race aggressively” at Tour de Pologne
IPT’s preparations for the Vuelta a España will take another step forward when the team lines up at the Tour de Pologne for the fifth time.
The team’s goal for the seven-day race, which begins in Wrocław on Monday (August 4), focuses on strong performances in stages as opposed to targeting the GC.
Volta a Catalunya stage winner Ethan Vernon, Marco Frigo, George Bennett, and Nadav Raisberg all feature in the IPT roster, which also includes recent Sibiu Cycling Tour winner Matthew Riccitello.
The opening stage into Legnica is tailor-made for the sprinters, while stage 4 from Rybnik to Cieszyn could also end similarly despite more undulating terrain.
Meanwhile, there are uphill finishes on stages 2, 5, and 6, with the final stage comprising a flat, 12.5-kilometer ITT around the famous Wieliczka salt mine.
“The main goal is to get some good results from stages,” explains Sports Director Rene Mandri. “We have Ethan with us, and the race starts with a sprint, and there might be one or two more where he can make it to the finish.
“We bring a team which is ready to race actively, to go ahead on the climbs, and try to take another stage with guys like Bennett, Frigo, and Raisberg. We don’t put any big hopes on the GC at first, but we’ll see what the race brings us as it goes on.”
Vernon’s consistency in sprints throughout the 2025 season will mean he’ll be one to watch in Monday’s opening stage.
He says: “I’ve been training at altitude and I am starting to go really well.
“I’m excited to be back racing and using Poland as the final building block towards my Vuelta goals.
“Stages 1 and 4 look like good opportunities, and I will try for the TT as it’s the last stage, but as I have been focusing on sprint work I am not expecting too much there.”
After bouncing back from a crash at June’s Tour de Suisse by winning the Sibiu Cycling Tour at the start of July, Riccitello arrives in Poland with good legs after a productive block in Italy.
“Our recent training camp in Livingo went really well,” he says. “Everything’s been on track, and I feel I’ve been on a good trajectory all year.
“This might be one of my last races for the year, so I’m just looking to make the most of it and do my job as best as possible.”
IPT at the Tour de Pologne (Monday August 4 – Sunday August 10)
Riders: George Bennett (NZL), Pier-André Côté (CAN), Marco Frigo (ITA), Chris Froome (GBR), Nadav Raisberg (ISR), Matthew Riccitello (USA), Ethan Vernon (GBR)
Sports Directors: Rene Mandri (EST), Oscar Guerrero (ESP), René Andrle (CZE)
