Nutella Mini Tour de Pologne 2011 officially presented

June 24, 2011 – The 2011 Tour the Pologne is looking after young talent. Young champions will in fact literally have a chance to grow with the Nutella Mini Tour de Pologne. Last year’s edition of the Tour de Pologne at the Mini Tour involved over 1,200 children. Organizers thus are bringing back the event dedicated to children, that will accompany each stage of the actual race for the professionals.

The 2011 Nutella Mini Tour de Pologne was officially presented during a press conference in Warsaw. Tour de Pologne Director Czeslaw Lang unveiled all the details, with the help of Axel Armand, manager of Ferrero Polska. The Ferrero Polska company will in fact be the Tour de Pologne most important partner for the fourth year in a row, through its Nutella brand.

Three-time Tour de Pologne winner Marian Wi?ckowski, who is now actively promoting cycling among young people, and Poland’s Cycling Federation President Wac?aw Skarul were guests of honor at today’s conference. Skarkul also presented the roster of Poland’s National Cycling Team, from which nine riders will be selected to participate to the 68th Tour de Pologne, that will take place from July 31 to August 7, 2011.
“The Tour de Pologne has become a great chance to get younger people to approach this beautiful sport,” said Czeslaw Lang. “It’s very important to practice sports ever since we’re young, since being involved in sports helps not only the physical growth of an individual, but also the personal one. Sports practice helps young people grow up in life and learn to face and get over difficulties they may encounter each day.”

Police representatives who attended the conference underlined that the Nutella Mini Tour de Pologne is a chance to view cycling not only as a sport, but also as an instrument to teach children basic safety rules to be on the road. Police will set up a mini-village in Bukowina Tarza?ska, during a stage that doesn’t envisage the race for children. The mini-village will have signs and educational games that will allow children to exercise and learn road safety rules. The Nutella Mini Tour de Pologne will have the High Patronage of the Police, of the Sports and Tourism Ministry and of the Poland Presidency at the European Community.

The Nutella Mini Tour de Pologne envisages six races that will take place before the stage finish of the Pro race in Warsaw, D?browa Górnicza, Katowice, Cieszyn, Zakopane and Cracow. There will be two categories, based on different age: one for children 9 to 12 years old and another one for older kids of 13 and 14 years of age. All children participating to the stages of the Nutella Mini Tour de Pologne will receive a beautiful cycling jersey and a flask. Each one of the contenders will also receive a cool gadget at the end of the race. The winner of the race for each category each day (4 per day for each boy and girl category) will receive a beautiful racing bicycle and a special leader jersey for the race. Prizes will be awarded also to those who end in second and third place in each category.
“We wanted to have awards for the winners, but many other prizes and gadgets are in store for every participant,” Lang said. “Besides being competitive, cycling at this age must be a game and a moment of fun first and foremost.”
Children can participate to the race both individually and as a team. The best team will receive a diploma signed by Poland’s National Cycling Team at the end of each stage, plus sports bags and a special team jersey.