Marczynski takes stage two

Tomasz Marczynski (CCC Polsat Polkowice) won the second road stage of the Szlakiem Grodów Piastowskich after a well-timed escape. He defeated breakaway companions Batosz Huzarski (Polish National Track Team) and Marek Rutkiewicz (Mroz Active Jet), who retained his overall lead.

The trio escaped two kilometres prior to the final mountain prime of the day and were able to hold their advantage to the finish line in Dzierzoniow, at the end of the 167.8-kilometre stage.

"I didn’t have to much luck in the first part of the season," said Marczynski afterwards. "I was involved in many crashes, I was injured in Tour of Turkey and I crashed right before the Szlakiem Grodow Piastowskich. Despite all that misfortune I was able to win today and this is why this victory is so special to me.

"I want to dedicate this success to my girlfriend who has been supporting me no matter what. I had a picture of her in my pocket and it gave me the strength to succeed."

Earlier in the stage, an early break had set out including Mariusz Witecki (Mróz Active Jet), Tomasz Kiendyś (CCC Polsat Polkowice), Silvere Ackermann (PCT Voralberg), Tomislav Danculović (BK Loborika), Hrvoje Miholjevic (BK Loborika), Artur Detko (Aktio Group Mostostal Puławy), Kim Lachmann (Nutrixxion Sparkass), Cesare Benedetti (NetAPP), Petr Bencik (PSK Whirlpool) and Dariusz Głuszak (Polish National Team). Later it was joined by Martin Mares (PSK Whirlpool) and Ackermann got dropped.

The ten riders were afforded one minute advantage by the peloton, with slopes of the Category 2 Palczyk Pass, Category 2 Niedzwiedzka Pass and Category 1 Walimska Pass all to themselves. Witecki revealed himself as the man most interested in the climbs as he gradually built up his collection of points at each of the summits.

Even though the leading group worked well together the field didn’t let them go too far. They were caught at kilometer 45. The next move was made by Dariusz Rudnicki (Aktio Group Mostostal Puławy), who launched the attack with Massino Demarin (BK Loborika). They gained 4 minutes on the peloton, but on the fourth climb of the day, the Croat left his Polish companion behind. Rudnicki was swept by the bunch 65 kilometers from the finish line and Demerin’s solo escape was ended 20 kilometers later.

The next ones to try their luck were Daniele Callegarin (CDC Cavaliere), Bartlomiej Matysiak (CCC Polsat Polkowice), Christoph Sokoll (PCT Vorarlberg), Wolodymir Starchyk (Amore & Vita Conad), Tomas Buchacek (PSK Whirlpool), Kristijan Durasek (BK Loborika), as well as Lachmann and Witecki, who had taken part in the first breakaway of the day.

They were quickly brought back into the field and then Sergiy Grechyn (Amore & Vita Conad) launched another attack. Later he was replaced on the front of the race by his teammate, Jaroslaw Dabrowski. He held his lead until the bottom of the last climb, where he was reeled in.

Two kilometres from the last mountains prime Tomasz Marczynski (CCC Polsat Polkowice), Marek Rutkiewicz (Mroz Active Jet) and Bartosz Huzarski (Polish National Track Team) fired on the front. They managed to maintain the 30-second gap to the very end, as Rutkiewicz and Huzarski did most of the work on the final kilometre.

Marczynski outsprinted Huzarski and Rutkiewicz finished third. CCC Polsat Polkowice rider claimed his second victory in 2010 after winning the race in Sobotka, which opens the cycling season in Poland.

Rutkiewicz who was celebrating his 29th birthday kept the gold leader's jersey and will wear it on the tomorrow’s time trial in Polkowice. He has 12 second advantage over Marczynski and 16 over Huzarski.