Movement

Photo: Dariusz Krzywański

Alan Banaszek has captured victory in the Polish national road race championships, winning in a dramatic three-up sprint. The result is the 25-year-olds first national title on the road and first victory as part of Human Powered Health Cycling.

“Dreams do come true,” Banaszek said after an emotional victory. “It’s such an amazing feeling to win a road race for the title of national champion.”

 

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The flat parcours meant that like many championship road races, this was one of attrition. Banaszek was no alone in this fight and could count on teammate Stanisław Aniołkowski for much of the race as they both tried to find the attack that would be the winning move. 

“You had to hit the right one,” he explains. “I managed to do that, and I was able to successfully continue the race to my advantage. At 70 kilometers to the go, I found myself in a 3-person breakaway from which I was able to race for gold.”

The trio comprised of Banaszek, WorldTour rider Filip Maciejuk (Bahrain – Victorious) and Marcin Budzinski (Marcin – HRE Mazowsze Serce Polski). As the fastest of the three, he used his sprinting craft to jump off the wheels and sprint to the line, raising arms aloft in triumphant fashion. 

Banaszek will now wear the stunning white with red livery, Polish national champions kit. Emblazoned with the national symbol of Poland, the ‘Orzeł Biały’ – a white eagle – he will carry the weight of national pride into every race for the next year. 

“For me, it will be a great honor,” he says. “It’s also a big motivation to represent these colors as best as possible.”