Cycling Capital of Poland 2026: Record kilometers cycled, new world record set

Świdnica has claimed the prestigious title of "Cycling Capital of Poland 2026" in the presidential city category, marking a significant achievement after years of dedicated community building. In June, the city's residents collectively cycled a record-breaking 616,234 kilometers, with 2,017 participants organized into 100 groups contributing to this remarkable feat. Beata Moskal-Słaniewska, the president of Świdnica, expressed pride in the community's accomplishment, which secured the city first place among 57 presidential cities.

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After six years of consistently building a cycling community, residents have for the first time secured the city victory in a nationwide competition. In the June campaign, 2,017 participants grouped into 100 teams took part, collectively cycling a record 616,234 km, securing Świdnica first place among 57 presidential cities.

Beyond the city-level competition, the event also celebrated individual achievements. Jacek Kwiatkowski, representing Łysomice, not only participated but also embarked on a quest to break both the Guinness World Record and the World Ultra Cycling Association (WUCA) record for the longest distance covered by a male cyclist in 30 days. He surpassed the previous benchmark of 11,433 km, achieving an impressive 11,635.85 km, averaging around 450 km per day under challenging conditions, including temperatures reaching forty-five degrees Celsius.

This year's "Cycling Capital of Poland" competition saw massive participation, with approximately 90,000 individuals cycling a combined total of nearly 18.5 million kilometers across Poland. The competition, which included 58 cities and 192 municipalities, is designed to be more than just a race; it actively promotes a healthy lifestyle and fosters community integration.

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Satisfaction is there. Maybe not from the result or the record itself, but from the circumstances under which it all happened. I was normally cycling in forty-five degrees.

In the municipal categories, Łysomice from the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship emerged victorious in the open and rural categories. Pajęczno triumphed in the urban-rural category, while Chełmża secured the win in the urban municipalities category. Among the cities, Puławy took first place in the category for cities with up to 50,000 inhabitants, and Świdnica dominated the category for cities with 50,000 to 65,000 inhabitants, improving its performance from the previous year.

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We collectively achieved 11,387 points and cycled 492,322 km thanks to the commitment of 1,668 participants. We couldn't defend last year's victory in the open classification, but this year's competition was extremely fierce.