The top pre-race favourite for victory in the 2026 Tour de Pologne, João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), has been forced to pull out prior to stage 5 as a result of his injuries from the late stage 4 mass crash.
Around 30 to 40 riders fell late on stage 4's hilly run from Zagan to Karpacz on a fast, waterlogged downhill section of road, leading to a 40-minute suspension of racing as ambulances attended the injured.