Slovakia will welcome the Cycling Étape of the prestigious ORLEN Nations Grand Prix 2024

Filling stations network ORLEN brings a prestigious international cycling event to our country for the second time. On Friday 17 May, the third stage of the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix 2024 will take place between Tvrdošín and Štrbské Pleso.

The international ORLEN Group operating in Central Europe traditionally supports sporting events and young sporting talents and as part of its expansion it will bring a unique experience to Slovak cycling fans, of which there are certainly not a few under the Tatra Mountains. Slovakia will be one of the three countries, along with the Czech Republic and Poland, that will pass through the peloton of the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix 2024. This race is part of the UCI Nations Cup U23 series and will see talented cyclists in the under-23 age category from 22 national teams and three clubs in action. The Slovak national team will also be on the start list.

"We have long been active in supporting prestigious domestic and international sporting events and athletes. We perceive the race as a unique opportunity to show the beauty of Slovakia to the world and to offer cycling fans a unique experience. For young racers, they represent an opportunity to experience what it means to compete at a professional level. Supporting this event is also an opportunity for us to raise the profile of the ORLEN brand in Slovakia and Central Europe," said Marek Gieroñ, Managing Director of ORLEN Unipetrol Slovakia.

The ORLEN Nations Grand Prix 2024 includes five stages in three countries. The event kicks off on 15 May in Prostìjov, Moravia, and cyclists will complete two stages. The third stage will take place in Slovakia on Friday 17 May, when the cyclists will complete a 100km route starting in Tvrdošín and finishing in Štrbské Pleso. A varied accompanying programme for children and adults is prepared at Štrbské Pleso. They will then continue through Slovakia to Poland, where the final race will take place on Sunday 19 May in the Polish Eastern Carpathians near the Ar³amów Hotel.

"We have prepared a comprehensive route where everyone will have the opportunity to show what they are capable of. The route is demanding, the second and third stages end with climbs where we can expect a real battle of the climbers", specified Czeslaw Lang, former successful Polish racer, currently race director and also president of Lang Team, the event organizer.

Main sponsor ORLEN, official sponsor DRUTEX and race director Czeslaw Lang invite all cycling enthusiasts to the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix cycling race, where the future stars of the world's professional peloton will meet.

ORLEN Nations Grand Prix 2024 race route:

- 15 May 2024: Prostìjov - Bouzov Castle | Czech Republic

- 16 May 2024: Pøerov - Horní Hrozenkov | Czech Republic

- 17 May 2024: Tvrdošín - Štrbské Pleso | Slovakia

- 18 May 2024: Bukovina Resort - Jaslo | Poland

- 19 May 2024: Lesko, Powiat Leski - Hotel Ar³amów | Poland

ORLEN Group is traditionally active in supporting prominent athletes and sports projects. It has already brought Formula 1 racer Valtteri Bottas to Slovakia and has given motorsport fans the opportunity to see a Formula 1 monoposto for themselves at its filling stations. This year, it is continuing its partnership with the F1 Visa Cash App RB team.

ORLEN has been operating in Slovakia since 2019 and is one of the largest international networks on this market. They are located all over Slovakia and customers can choose full-size stations, which, in addition to fuel, also offer a wide range of additional sales and refreshments under the Stop Cafe brand. There is also a network of more than thirty ORLEN Express self-service stations, which represent a good value-for-money alternative. ORLEN also issues its own Easy and Business TANKARTS and offers customers the ORLEN loyalty app.

In total, the international ORLEN Group currently operates nearly 3,500 filling stations in seven European countries - Poland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia.