Świdnica named Poland’s Capital of Cycling

The small city of Świdnica, with about 55,000 residents, won the national "Capital of Cycling in Poland" competition, beating much larger towns. The race, now in its eighth edition, tallied more than 18.5 million kilometres ridden by participants from 58 cities and 192 municipalities across the country during June.

Results were announced at a gala in Bydgoszcz, the initiative’s founder. Świdnica took first place in the city category, while the commune of Łysomice topped the rural bracket. The contest also featured an ultra‑cycling attempt by Jacek Kwiatkowski of Łysomice, who rode 11 635.85 km in 30 days, a distance that could become a new Guinness World Record pending verification.

The competition, originally a local project, now serves to encourage cycling as a mode of transport, promote urban mobility and healthy lifestyles, and highlights growing public interest in sustainable sports in Poland.