IPT set for Tour de Pologne return
Chemistry and camaraderie should not be a problem among the Israel – Premier Tech line-up for next week’s Tour de Pologne, the team’s first UCI WorldTour stage race since the Tour de France.
Six of IPT’s seven-man squad heading to Poland were also selected for the Tour, something that is not down to chance.
“That’s a little bit by design,” says head sports director Steve Bauer. “These riders have raced together a lot throughout the season, and will continue to do so after Poland.”
Tour de France starters Pascal Ackermann, Guillaume Boivin, Jakob Fuglsang, Hugo Houle, Krists Neilands, and Jake Stewart will all be on the start line as IPT returns to the seven-day race for the first time since 2022.
Completing the line-up is Michael Schwarzmann, who has already had 29 racing days alongside fellow German Ackermann in 2024.
Subverting the norm for week-long races, this year’s Tour de Pologne GC will take shape early on upon leaving Wrocław on Sunday.
“The first two days – an uphill finish into Karpacz and an individual time trial – will show us who’s going for GC. They’ll decide our plan for the rest of the race,” adds Bauer.
“I think one or two of the lumpy days that are hard – stages 3 and 6 – could be breakaway days. Even if we are going for GC, we have to try and contest them.
“Stages 4, 5, and 7 are potentially sprint stages, or even reduced sprint stages, which is why Jake, Schwarzi, and Boivin are all there for Pascal.”
Ackermann is a five-time stage winner in Poland, however victory in next week’s race would arguably be the most significant of the 30-year-old sprinter’s triumphs in the country.
“I’m still waiting for that first victory of the season but, with three sprint opportunities, I believe it will come,” he says.
“Poland is a super nice race. I have lots of good memories of racing and winning there – the parcours suits me, the crowds are really nice, and I think my shape will be good after the Tour.”
Bauer is hopeful that the two-week break that six of IPT’s riders have had since the Tour de France will help the team achieve its goals in the race.
He says: “They’ve had just the right amount of downtime after the Tour, while also carrying that level that’s impossible to get unless you’ve raced it.”
Bauer is hopeful that the two-week break that six of IPT’s riders have had since the Tour de France will help the team achieve its goals in the race.
He says: “They’ve had just the right amount of downtime after the Tour, while also carrying that level that’s impossible to get unless you’ve raced it.”
IPT at the Tour de Pologne
Riders: Pascal Ackermann (GER), Guillaume Boivin (CAN), Jakob Fuglsang (DEN), Hugo Houle (CAN), Krists Neilands (LAT), Michael Schwarzmann (GER), Jake Stewart (GBR)
Sports Directors: Steve Bauer, Rene Mandri, Eric Van Lancker
