This past weekend was marked by the first league matches in Poland. On the tracks of PGE Ekstraliga we watched five permanent riders of TAURON SEC 2024.
On Friday, at the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium, local team Fogo Unia faced Tauron Włókniarz Częstochowa. The hosts' lineup featured Andzejs Lebedevs and Janusz Kołodziej. For Lebedevs, it was a debut in new colors after he left the team from Krosno last winter following three years of racing. The 2023 TAURON SEC bronze medalist did not have an easy start to the season. During one of the first sparring matches, he suffered a broken sternum, which initially raised doubts about his performance. However, his recovery progressed smoothly, and Kołodziej quickly returned to the track. The visiting team was represented by TAURON SEC regulars Mikkel Michelsen and Leon Madsen.
The first race was won by the current Individual European Champion, and it was the Częstochowa team that emerged victorious. The hosts responded promptly with a double triumph in the junior race. By the end of the first series, the hosts led their rivals by two points. In heat 5, Andzejs Lebedevs initiated a strong comeback, teaming up with Keynan Rew to secure a 5:1 victory over the Woryna-Hansen duo. From that moment on, the hosts diligently accumulated valuable points. Ultimately, Fogo Unia triumphed on their home track against Tauron Włókniarz Częstochowa, with a score of 47:43. The leading scorers for the hosts were Janusz Kołodziej (13 points) and Andzejs Lebedevs (11 points). Michelsen and Madsen, representing the visiting team, collected a total of 26 points.
Fogo Unia Leszno - Tauron Włókniarz Częstochowa 47:43
10. Janusz Kołodziej (Poland) - (3,2,3,2,3) 13
11. Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia) - (2,3,2,3,1) 11
1. Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark) - (3,1,1,3,2,ex) 10
5. Leon Madsen (Denmark) - (2,3,3,3,3,3,2) 16
The final match of the 1st round of the PGE Ekstraliga took place in Gorzów. At their home venue, local team Stal competed against Apator Toruń. By the seventh race, the hosts had built a 14-point lead. The meeting concluded with a score of 51:39, with Patryk Dudek notably scoring 10 points in six starts for Toruń.
Ebut.pl Stal Gorzow Wielkopolski - Apator Toruń 51:39
1. Patryk Dudek (Poland) - (2,1,3,0,1,3) 10