Czesław Lang

Track and road cyclist, silver medallist at the Moscow Olympics in 1980 as well as double medallist in the World Road Cycling Championships. After finishing his sports career, the organiser of the largest cyclical sports event in Poland – Tour de Pologne UCI World Tour.

Born on May 17, 1955 in Kołczygłowy in the Land of Słupsk. A member of LZS Baszta Bytów (1970-1977 first coach Euzebiusz Marciniak) and Legia Warszawa (1977-82). Two time Olympics participant: Montreal (1976): 5th place in the 4-km team track race, Moscow (1980): silver medal in the individual road race. Nine-time Polish Champion, winner of Tour de Pologne (1980). Double WC medallist in team 100-km race: 1977 – bronze, 1979 – silver. He took part in the Peace Race four times.
1982-1989 Professional cyclist

Contracts with the following teams: GIS-Olmo, Carrera, Del Tongo-Colnago, Malvor, and Sidi Colnago.

He participated in Giro d´Italia nine times, and in Tour de France three times, together with the biggest Italian cyclists – Francesco Moser, Giuseppe Saroni, and Roberto Visentini. In total, he won 30 professional races, including the Baracchi Trophy together with Lech Piasecki (unofficial world champion in two-man team time trial), and Tirreno-Adriatico, Tour de Romandie, Volta Catalunya Prologues; he also won in the ‘golden kilometer’ in Mestre, and in two team stages of Giro d’Italia.

Sportsman, manager, businessman, social activist

First cyclist from the former ‘Eastern Bloc’ to sign a professional contract. Owner and chairman of the Lang Team Company. Originator and director of Tour de Pologne (from 1993), Grand Prix MTB, Lang Team Bike Marathons, Mini Tour de Pologne, Tour de Pologne Junior, Tour de Pologne for Amateurs and Lang Team Race. Polish road and offroad cycling promoter at home and abroad. He managed to raise our national amateur Tour de Pologne race to the rank of a world elite part of the UCI WorldTour cycle.

Member of the Committee for Professional Sport Council, Member of the International Association of Cycling Race Organizers (AIOCC), President of Professional Cyclist Association in 1986-1989. Tour de Pologne and its director, Czesław Lang, have received multiple awards from prestigious bodies. TDP received the “Best Sport Event of The Year” title in Poland in 1995, 1996, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2020.

Hobby: horseback riding, hunting, skiing, travels. Owner of the Barnowo estate in the Słupia Valley.

Successes

– Olympic Vice Champion in the mass start race (in 1980)
– World Vice Champion in the team race at 100 kilometres (in 1979)
– Bronze Medal in the World Championships team race at 100 kilometres (in 1977)
– Tour de Pologne Winner (in 1980)
– Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda Winner (in 1980)
– Prologue Tirreno-Adriatico Winner (in 1983)
– Prologue Tour de Romandie Winner (in 1987)
– Trofeo Baracchi Winner (in 1988)
– Polish Champion in mountain race (in 1980)
– Polish Champion in team road race (in 1977,1979, 1980, 1981)
– Polish Champion on the track in the individual pursuit race (in 1974)
– Polish Champion on the track in the team pursuit race (in 1979, 1980)
– Polish Champion in long-distance race at 50 kilometres (in 1981)
– Polish Vice-Champion in TT (in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981)
– Police Vice-Champion in double TT (in 1980)
– Polish Vice-Champion on the track in the individual pursuit race (in 1975,1976)
– Bronze Medal on the track in the individual pursuit race (in 1977, 1979)

Prizes

1995 – Tour de Pologne, The Best Sports Event of the Year in Przegląd Sportowy’s plebiscite
1996 – Tour de Pologne, The Best Sports Event of the Year in Przegląd Sportowy’s plebiscite
1997 – Czesław Lang, Promoter of Polish Sport Award in Przegląd Sportowy’s plebiscite
1997 – Czesław Lang, Sports Menager of the Year, Polish Sports Manager Confederation plebiscite
2000 – Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, state decoration for Czesław Lang
2003 – Tour de Pologne, Sports and TV Event of the Year
2003 – Czesław Lang awarded by the Confederation of Polish Employers
2004 – Tour de Pologne, Sports Event of the Year, Sports Marketing Days
2004 – Tour de Pologne, The Best Sports Event of the Year in Przegląd Sportowy’s plebiscite
2005 – Czesław Lang, Man of Sport Award
2006 – Tour de Pologne awarded in category Sports Brand, Sports Marketing Days
2006 – Tour de Pologne awarded best Sports Event, Sports Marketing Days
2006 – Czesław Lang awarded an honorary Demes, Sport & Business Award
2007 – Czesław Lang awarded best manager for the organization of Tour de Pologne
2007 – Tour de Pologne awarded in category Sports Brand, Sports Marketing Days
2008 – Tour de Pologne, The Best Sports Event of the Year in Przegląd Sportowy’s plebiscite
2009 – A More Beautiful Poland Award given by the Polish Tourist Organization under the patronage of the President of Poland for building a better image of Poland abroad
2010 – Tour de Pologne and Polish Television awarded for best televised event in Przegląd Sportowy’s plebiscite
2010 – Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, state decoration for Czesław Lang
2011 – Czesław Lang, Ambassador of the Polish Economy Brands concept, granted by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Waldemar Pawlak
2011 – Czesław Lang awarded „Special Superwiktor”
2011 – Tour de Pologne, The Best Sports Event of the Year in Przegląd Sportowy’s plebiscite
2011 – TVP for the coverage of the Tour de Pologne Sports Media Project, Demes Statue of the Sport Marketing Award
2012 – Minister Radosław Sikorski presented the „Bene Merito” honorary distinction to Czesław Lang, since2009 – the Bene Merito distinction has been bestowed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Polish and foreign citizens whose activities enhance Poland’s position in the international arena and for organization of an event, which contributes to promoting a positive image of Poland on the international arena
2012 – 68.Tour de Pologne sport report – Sport & Buisness Award DEMES – in category Sport Media Project
2012 – Tour de Pologne, “Teraz Polska” Emblem for promoting a positive image of Poland abroad
2013 – Golden Logo „Poland” for Lang Team, award of Polish National Tourist Organisation
2013 – Czesław Lang, Ambassador of Polish Sport, Przegląd Sportowy’s plebiscite
2014 – Czesław Lang, Fryderyk Chopin’s statuette, award of TV Polonia „for merits to Poland and poles abroad”
2014 – Czesław Lang, Ambassador of Polish Sport, Plebiscite ‘Sports Success of the 25th anniversary of Polish Freedom’ of Ministry of Sports and Tourism, Polish Television and Przegląd Sportowy
2014 – Czesław Lang, Honorary Award „Gryf Pomorski” granted by the President of the Pomorskie Province
2014 – Czesław Lang, Outstanding Personage, Special Award of VIP Magazine
2014 – The Beginning of 71st Tour de Pologne in Gdańsk as a Sports Event of the Year at XII Sports Gala in Gdańsk
2015 – Tour de Pologne, The Best Sports Event of the Year in Przegląd Sportowy’s plebiscite
2015 – Tour de Pologne, Sports Event of the Year, Demes Sports Marketing Award
2016 – Czesław Lang a distinguished Entrepreneur, European Business Club Award for creating the most professional and internationally recognizable Polish sports brand, outstanding achievements in the field of sports marketing and skilfully combining sport with the Polish history
2016 – Czesław Lang takes the third place in the ranking of the most influential people of Polish sport according to Forbes magazine
2016 – Dziennik Gazeta Prawna honors Czesław Lang as a „Visionary” during the „New Ideas” Forum
2016 – Czesław Lang among the “Sustainable Architects” of the United Nations Organization, prize for outstanding people, who work on the development of Poland
2017 – Czesław Lang, sixth place in the ranking of the most influential people of Polish sport according to Forbes magazine;
2017 – Czesław Lang, Kalós Kagathós Medal for sports achievements and achievements after the end of his career;
2018 – Czesław Lang, fifth place in the ranking of the most influential people of Polish sport according to Forbes magazine;
2018 – Czesław Lang, Independence Centenary Medal granted by the President of the Republic of Poland;
2019 – Czesław Lang, Most Reliable in Polish Economy, award of ISBnews Portal;
2019 – Czesław Lang „White Eagle” prestigious award for contribution to Polish growth
2019 – Czesław Lang, USQUE AD FINEM, Henryk Dobrzanski – Hubal award
2019 – Czesław Lang, Individual Economic Prize of the President of Poland
2019 – Czesław Lang, fifth place in the ranking „50 Most Influential People in Polish Sport” according to Forbes magazine and the Pentagon Research company and „Ambassador of Good Practices in Sport” award
2020 – Czesław Lang, third place in the ranking „50 Most Influential People in Polish Sport” according to Forbes magazine and the Pentagon Research company
2020 – Tour de Pologne, The Best Sports Event of the Year in Przegląd Sportowy’s plebiscite
2021 – Tour de Pologne The Best Sports Event of the Year 2020-2021, Sports Buisness Awards Demes
2022 – Czesław Lang, the United Nations award for outstanding achievements in cycling, business and sports, and the promotion of cycling in the world through the organisation of various races, especially the Tour de Pologne
2022 – Czesław Lang, VIP Magazine “VIP 2022” award for impressive achievements, organisation of the Tour de Pologne and promotion of Poland
2023 – Czesław Lang, Sports Manager, Sports Buisness Awards Demes
2023 – Lang Team, “Teraz Polska” Emblem, honorary award for the organisation of the Tour de Pologne
2023 – Czesław Lang, SGH Warsaw School of Economics award, Economic Forum in Karpacz
2023 – Czesław Lang, 30 years of TVP Polonia award
2023 – Czesław Lang, fourth place in the ranking „50 Most Influential People in Polish Sport” according to Forbes magazine and the Pentagon Research company
2024 – Czesław Lang, SPORTBIZ Award in the special category of Sports Promoter