http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/29622 I remember from my childhood the glory days of the Peace Race, a popular cycling event in which socialist Poland competed against our neighbouring friendly states. Each year the towns would empty as everybody found a television to watch our brave boys compete against the best cyclists from around the Eastern Bloc. The race did not go through the town of Koszalin, where I grew up. I never really dreamt of seeing it live, with my own eyes. But if it only had passed by my neck of the woods, I would have been there with my father, mother and sister, watching the great untouchables roll past on their colourful bikes, an armada of cars carrying mechanics and spare parts following close behind. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/16697/_MG_1391mini_small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209073/TourDePologne_003_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Lezajsk county, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209073'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209073 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:48:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209073 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209073/TourDePologne_003_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Lezajsk county, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209073'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209076/TourDePologne_007_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Miedzyrzec Podlaski, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209076'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209076 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:48:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209076 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209076/TourDePologne_007_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Miedzyrzec Podlaski, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209076'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209079/TourDePologne_001_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Lezajsk county, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209079'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209079 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:48:18 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209079 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209079/TourDePologne_001_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Lezajsk county, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209079'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209082/_MG_9844_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Bilgoraj, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209082'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209082 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:48:25 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209082 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209082/_MG_9844_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Bilgoraj, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209082'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209085/TourDePologne_009_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Lezajsk county, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209085'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209085 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:48:31 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209085 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209085/TourDePologne_009_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Lezajsk county, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209085'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209088/_MG_9897_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Lezajsk county, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209088'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209088 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:48:36 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209088 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209088/_MG_9897_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Lezajsk county, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209088'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209091/_MG_9892__2__small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Bilgoraj, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209091'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209091 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:48:41 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209091 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209091/_MG_9892__2__small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Bilgoraj, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209091'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209094/_MG_0045_small.JPG' /><br />People watching "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Malkinia County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo IMages)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209094'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209094 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:48:48 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209094 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209094/_MG_0045_small.JPG' /><br />People watching "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Malkinia County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo IMages)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209094'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209097/_MG_0040A_small.JPG' /><br />People watching "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Malkinia County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo IMages)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209097'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209097 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:47:59 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209097 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209097/_MG_0040A_small.JPG' /><br />People watching "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Malkinia County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo IMages)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209097'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209100/TourDePologne_002_small.JPG' /><br />People watching "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Bialystok County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo IMages)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209100'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209100 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:49:01 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209100 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209100/TourDePologne_002_small.JPG' /><br />People watching "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Bialystok County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo IMages)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209100'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209103/Napo090803PM_020_small.JPG' /><br />Kolonia zamek, Poland, August 5, 2009:.Fourth stage of Tour de Pologne. Villagers watching the race..The 66th Tour de Pologne UCI Pro Tour found its way on to the global calendar of the International Cycling Union, joining the list of the most important races including Tour de France and Giro d' Italia. Piotr Malecki accompanied the cyclists on this tiresome tour, fighting sharp curves and uphill rides. But it was not the race itself that became the main character of his photographs, but the people who gathered by the road since early morning, often taking brake from work, to cheer the cyclists on their quest. .(Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209103'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209103 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:49:48 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209103 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209103/Napo090803PM_020_small.JPG' /><br />Kolonia zamek, Poland, August 5, 2009:.Fourth stage of Tour de Pologne. Villagers watching the race..The 66th Tour de Pologne UCI Pro Tour found its way on to the global calendar of the International Cycling Union, joining the list of the most important races including Tour de France and Giro d' Italia. Piotr Malecki accompanied the cyclists on this tiresome tour, fighting sharp curves and uphill rides. But it was not the race itself that became the main character of his photographs, but the people who gathered by the road since early morning, often taking brake from work, to cheer the cyclists on their quest. .(Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209103'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209109/TourDePologne_008_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Miedzyrzec Podlaski, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209109'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209109 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:50:16 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209109 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209109/TourDePologne_008_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Miedzyrzec Podlaski, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209109'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209112/_MG_9842_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Bilgoraj, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209112'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209112 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:50:25 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209112 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209112/_MG_9842_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Bilgoraj, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209112'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209115/_MG_0065_small.JPG' /><br />People watching "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Rudka County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo IMages)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209115'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209115 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:50:33 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209115 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209115/_MG_0065_small.JPG' /><br />People watching "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Rudka County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo IMages)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209115'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209118/_MG_0357_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Losice County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209118'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209118 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:50:41 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209118 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209118/_MG_0357_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Losice County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209118'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209121/_MG_0009A_small.JPG' /><br />People watching "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Brok County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo IMages)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209121'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209121 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:50:49 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209121 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209121/_MG_0009A_small.JPG' /><br />People watching "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Brok County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo IMages)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209121'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209124/TourDePologne_006_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Miedzyrzec Podlaski, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209124'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209124 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:51:08 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209124 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209124/TourDePologne_006_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Miedzyrzec Podlaski, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209124'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209127/TourDePologne_004_small.JPG' /><br />Okolice Bilgoraju, Czwarty etap wyscigu Tour de Pologne. Sierpien 2009 Fot: Piotr Malecki / Napo Images People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Bilgoraj, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209127'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209127 Tue, 31 May 2011 15:26:39 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209127 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209127/TourDePologne_004_small.JPG' /><br />Okolice Bilgoraju, Czwarty etap wyscigu Tour de Pologne. Sierpien 2009 Fot: Piotr Malecki / Napo Images People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Bilgoraj, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209127'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209130/_MG_9853_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Bilgoraj, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209130'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209130 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:51:16 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209130 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209130/_MG_9853_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Bilgoraj, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209130'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209133/TourDePologne_010_small.JPG' /><br />People watching "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Lapy County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo IMages)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209133'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209133 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:51:23 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209133 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209133/TourDePologne_010_small.JPG' /><br />People watching "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Lapy County, Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo IMages)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209133'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209136/TourDePologne_005_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Bilgoraj, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209136'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209136 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:51:31 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209136 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209136/TourDePologne_005_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Bilgoraj, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209136'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209139/_MG_0365_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Miedzyrzec Podlaski, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209139'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209139 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:51:38 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209139 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1209139/_MG_0365_small.JPG' /><br />People watching the "Tour De Pologne" bicycle race. Village near Miedzyrzec Podlaski, South-East Poland, August 2009 (Photo by Piotr Malecki / Napo Images)<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1209139'>view full-size image</a> Piotr Malecki