Stal Gorzów faces rider shortage amid new Polish league rules

Stal Gorzów, a team competing in Poland's PGE Ekstraliga, occupies sixth place after eleven rounds. Coach Piotr Paluch answered fan criticism, explaining that injuries to key riders have limited the squad's performance and detailing why the team did not field certain riders in recent matches against Leszno and Wrocław.

The league is set to consider a regulation change for the 2027 season that would restrict reserve‑spot riders (numbers 8 and 16) to Polish‑licensed athletes under the age of 19. League president Wojciech Stępniewski announced the proposal on Canal+, noting that the rule would end the use of foreign reserve riders who are presently allowed up to age 24. If adopted, Stal Gorzów would have to choose between retaining Norwegian rider Mathias Pollestad, Danish rider Villads Nagel, or other foreign talent such as Adam Bednar.

The potential rule has created a dilemma for the club, which must decide which foreign rider to keep while complying with the new licensing requirements.