Pasmem Gór Świętokrzyskich

Pasmem Gór Świętokrzyskich was a road cycling race held in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains in Poland during the years 1951–1956, 1959–1963, 1967–1985, 1987–1989, and 2002–2003.

The race, first won by in 1951, played a significant role in developing and popularizing cycling in the Świętokrzyskie region. Held 35 times, it often served as a key test of form for Poland's national team cyclists before major international events, such as the World Championships and Summer Olympics. The race attracted generations of Poland's top cyclists, including , Ryszard Szurkowski, Stanisław Szozda, Tadeusz Mytnik, Czesław Lang, and Zbigniew Piątek.

Race history

Single-stage race (1951–1972)

The inaugural race, originally called the Nationwide Świętokrzyskie Cycling Race, took place on 19 August 1951. The route started in Kielce, passed through Końskie and Skarżysko-Kamienna, and finished at the Kielce stadium on Ściegiennego Street. , representing , won by gaining an advantage near Zagnańsk. Three hours later, cyclists competed in an Australian pursuit race at the Gwardia Kielce stadium, watched by approximately 3,000 spectators.

In 1952, , early in his career, won, narrowly beating his cousin . Harsh weather and a poorly prepared early section meant only 17 of 53 cyclists finished. Królak won again in 1955, but in 1956, he lost a sprint finish to Marian Więckowski. From 1959 to 1962, the race primarily featured regional cyclists, with and Edward Błaszczyk of each winning twice.

By 1963, the race regained national prominence and grew in prestige, becoming a critical preparation event for international competitions. On 28 August 1972, the 17th edition saw of Piast Gliwice win, though five others recorded the same time.

New format (1973–1989) In 1973, the race was renamed the Grand Prix of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains and expanded to four stages, including a time trial and a criterium.

The first race in the new format began with a surprise: Mieczysław Klimczyk of Świt Wolica won the time trial, beating Ryszard Szurkowski by 44 seconds. Szurkowski won the next two stages and, despite being outpaced by Stanisław Szozda in the final stage, claimed overall victory, receiving a porcelain trophy from Ćmielów.

In 1974, the final stage saw multiple breakaways. A decisive move at 88 km involved seven riders, with ten more joining by 120 km. won the stage, followed by and Marian Nawrot, all with the same time. Stanisław Boniecki won the overall classification, beating Jan Baćkowski by seven seconds.

Subsequent years saw victories by prominent Polish cyclists, including Tadeusz Mytnik (1975), Czesław Lang (1977), and Jan Jankiewicz (1980). The race typically comprised three or four stages, with the Kielce criterium being the most spectacular. In 1979, cyclists competed on the newly built in Miedziana Góra, with Jarosław Grodzki winning the first stage held there.

In 1981, the race reverted to a single stage on Tor Kielce (104 km, 25 laps). Harsh weather and a demanding course meant only 14 of 64 starters finished. Zbigniew Szczepkowski won, outsprinting Czesław Lang and .

In 1982, Sławomir Lewandowski secured victory with a solo breakaway in the final stage. Five pursuing riders took a wrong turn on Lenin Street, losing nearly a minute. The leader after three stages, Lechosław Michalak, finished later, dropping to second overall. Other winners in the 1980s included (1984), Andrzej Mierzejewski (1985, 1987), and Jacek Bodyk (1989).

Race revival (2002–2003) In 2002, Świętokrzyskie Cycling Association president revived the race. Zbigniew Piątek won, narrowly beating Kazimierz Stafiej after both chose not to sprint, but judges awarded Piątek the victory by centimeters. In 2003, the 35th edition was won by Wojciech Pawłak, who outsprinted breakaway companions, including Łukasz Bodnar.

Results Edition Date 1st place 2nd place 3rd place Source I 19 August 1951 Legia Warszawa Wacław WójcikLegia Warszawa Bolesław ŁazarczykVictoria Częstochowa II 12 October 1952 Legia Warszawa Gwardia Warszawa Jerzy LiszkiewiczGwardia Łódź III 2 August 1953 Gwardia Warszawa Witold PreczyńskiSpołem Łódź Wacław WójcikLegia Warszawa IV 1 August 1954 Władysław KlabińskiGwardia Warszawa Stanisław SzostakWłókniarz Łódź Lech PijanowskiLegia Warszawa V 10 July 1955 Stanisław KrólakLegia Warszawa Tadeusz WaliszewskiLegia Warszawa Jerzy JankowskiGwardia Łódź VI 17 June 1956 Marian WięckowskiLegia Warszawa Stanisław KrólakLegia Warszawa Gwardia Łódź VII 13 September 1959 SHL Kielce Piast Chęciny Edward BodziochSHL Kielce VIII 9 October 1960 Franciszek KoselaSHL Kielce Edward BłaszczykSHL Kielce Mieczysław MelaSHL Kielce IX 17 September 1961 Edward BłaszczykSHL Kielce Rajmund ZielińskiCzarni Radom Jerzy LindeCzarni Radom X 16 September 1962 Edward BłaszczykSHL Kielce Włodzimierz GwardyśSHL Kielce Jan KuchtaPiast Chęciny XI 15 September 1963 Jan ChtiejSpołem Łódź Jan KudraSpołem Łódź Józef BekerLZS Wrocław XII 29 May 1967 Kazimierz JasińskiLegia Warszawa Budowlani Łódź Wojciech KowalskiWłókniarz Łódź XIII 30 September 1968 SHL Kielce Sarmata Warszawa LZS Busko XIV 17 August 1969 Gwardia Łódź Flota Gdynia Andrzej JakubowskiLegia Warszawa XV 24 August 1970 Bug Wyszków Społem Łódź Szczepan KaszowskiCracovia XVI 16 August 1971 Kazimierz JasińskiBroń Radom Julian RóżalskiBroń Radom Tymoteusz MacyszynDolmel Wrocław XVII 28 August 1972 Piast Gliwice Stanisław DemelPolonia Warszawa Jarosław BekSpołem Łódź XVIII 17–19 August 1973 Ryszard SzurkowskiDolmel Wrocław Stanisław DymekWisłoka Dębica Zbigniew BielskiLechia Gdańsk XIX 10–12 August 1974 Stanisław BonieckiAgromel Toruń Jan BaćkowskiKorona Kielce Andrzej PierzyńskiLZS Pawlikowice XX 20–22 June 1975 Tadeusz MytnikFlota Gdynia Ryszard SzurkowskiDolmel Wrocław Stanisław SzozdaZiemia Opolska XXI 1–3 June 1976 Wielkopolska Poznań Gwardia Białystok Mieczysław NowickiWłókniarz Łódź XXII 17–19 June 1977 Czesław LangLegia Warszawa Józef KołopajłoFlota Gdynia Tadeusz MytnikFlota Gdynia XXIII 16–17 June 1978 Bobrek Bytom Witold PluteckiLegia Warszawa Ryszard SzurkowskiDolmel Wrocław XXIV 14–15 June 1979 Waldemar OkrutnikMoto Jelcz Oława Jarosław GrodzkiTramwajarz Łódź Józef PytowskiGórnik Sosnowiec XXV 22–24 June 1980 Jan JankiewiczMRLKS Wrocław Tadeusz WojtasNeptun Gdańsk Lechosław MichalakLegia Warszawa XXVI 15 August 1981 Zbigniew SzczepkowskiLegia Warszawa Czesław LangLegia Warszawa Adam ZagajewskiLegia Warszawa XXVII 25–27 June 1982 Sławomir LewandowskiLegia Warszawa Lechosław MichalakLegia Warszawa Plon Rzeszów XXVIII 16–17 July 1983 Sławomir LewandowskiMazowsze Teresin Grzegorz BanaszekSarmata Warszawa Zbigniew SzymańskiStomil Poznań XXIX 21–22 June 1984 Moto Jelcz Oława Andrzej MierzejewskiAgromel Toruń Victoria Rybnik XXX 16–17 June 1985 Andrzej MierzejewskiAgromel Toruń Lech PiaseckiOrlęta Gorzów Agrosudety Jelenia Góra XXXI 14–16 August 1987 Andrzej MierzejewskiAgromel Toruń Zenon JaskułaOrlęta Gorzów Andrzej SypytkowskiKrupiński Suszec XXXII 1–3 July 1988 Radosław RomanikGórnik Wałbrzych Jerzy ChądzyńskiChrobry Głogów Andrzej PółkośnikPolonez Warszawa XXXIII 7–9 July 1989 Jacek BodykGórnik Polkowice Jerzy WoźniakGórnik Polkowice Mirosław KucharskiBobrek Bytom XXXIV 22 June 2002 Zbigniew PiątekMróz Kazimierz StafiejMróz Przemysław MikołajczykServisco Koop XXXV 20 June 2003 Wojciech PawłakMikomax Browar Staropolski Przemysław MikołajczykServisco Koop Jarosław RębiewskiMikomax Browar Staropolski

References

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