Beskid Sądecki can surprise you. For some it’s the difference in elevation, for others the views, and for those who come back here regularly—something completely different every time. Tomasz Marczyński knows these roads very well. We asked him about his favorite routes, preparation for mountain rides, and why, after a demanding climb, a moment of recovery is just as important as the effort itself.
It’s a conversation that also serves as an invitation for a shared ride during Tour de Belmonte. The event will take place 28–30 August 2026 at Hotel Belmonte, and one of its highlights will be a group ride with Tomasz along the Beskid routes.
1. Based on your experience, what mistakes do cyclists preparing for long mountain rides make most often, and how can they be avoided?
The most common mistake is definitely a lack of training consistency and overdoing the loads right at the beginning. We should start with small training units and systematically extend them, both in terms of time and intensity.
2. What does your preparation for a demanding route look like? What happens before the start, before you reach the first kilometer?
Preparation starts at least a day earlier with a good carbohydrate loading at dinner; then in the morning a good breakfast, checking the equipment from a technical perspective on which we’ll be training, and then we can set off.
3. After all these years, do routes still sometimes manage to surprise you? What determines that?
Not really—my fitness is still sufficient to handle the most demanding routes. As always, everything depends on the pace of riding; it’s what determines whether the route feels hard.
4. In your opinion, when is the best time to explore Beskid Sądecki by bike, and why?
As long as there’s no snow on the road 😁, the Beskidy routes can be explored practically all year round.
5. Which places or sections of Beskid Sądecki would you especially recommend to people who want to combine cycling with admiring mountain landscapes?
There are really so many of them; my favorite is the climb up Przehyba.
6. Would you recommend this especially to people who want to combine cycling with admiring mountain landscapes?
Practically everywhere, we’re surrounded by mountains and hills—the terrain is varied, so there’s no time for boredom.
7. What is your biggest reward after completing a demanding mountain route?
Definitely a tasty, nourishing meal and a moment to relax
8. After intensive rides, it’s time for recovery. Which elements of recovery are the most important for you?
I’m a fan of classic sports massage, although whenever I have the chance, I make use of spa facilities and saunas.
9. What surprises people who are riding in the Beskid region by bike for the first time the most?
People from the so-called “flat-Poland” area are most often surprised by the difference in elevation and the steepness of some climbs.
10. Is there a route in Beskid Sądecki that you return to particularly gladly? What makes it that one?
As I mentioned earlier, the climb up to Przehyba—a beautiful, green climb surrounded by trees, closed to traffic.
11. What do you like most about riding together with Tour de Belmonte participants?
In every edition, I’ve managed to meet very valuable people from completely different industries, whose common passion is cycling. It’s time to breathe, talk about cycling—not only that. The atmosphere is great—there’s time to relax, to have fun; we train and we rest.
“It’s time to breathe, talk about cycling and not only that. We train and we rest” - says Tomasz Marczyński when asked what he likes most about riding together with Tour de Belmonte participants.
Maybe that’s exactly why this event from the very beginning isn’t only about covering successive kilometers. Above all, it’s a chance to experience Beskid Sądecki from a slightly different perspective—the one that stays in your memory for a long time.