“I start here with a lot of confidence" - Gerben Thijssen ready to make an impact at the Tour de Pologne

Gerben Thijssen took a stage win at the Tour de Pologne in 2022 and as he returns to the race once again, the Intermarché-Circus-Wanty is keen to showcase his sprinting talents.

“I start here with a lot of confidence,” Thijssen reveals pre-race to WielerFlits. “I want to have some extra race kilometres in my legs. A lap is always good for the condition, and then I can go towards my last part of the build-up to the Vuelta a Espana. I have already been to Livigno and trained hard there for three weeks. After a week off, I am now in Poland, which is perfect."

Alongside Thijssen, the likes of Olav Kooij and Tim Merlier are also in competition at the race, meaning the sprint battle could be a fiercely contested one. “If they had been riding in the Tour de France, it would have been normal," says Thijssen, praising his opponents talents.

"There is also a good field here, so it will be a challenge to beat those men," the 25-year-old concludes. "The condition is good, we have worked hard. Now I have to gain confidence and go towards the Vuelta."