Behind the Gear: 620 km at 41 km/h average. Racing the sun.
Many doubted it was even possible. It stands as one of the most exciting and peak-level challenges in ultra-cycling.
The goal: ride across the whole of Poland—from Wisła all the way to Gdańsk (620 km)—between sunrise and sunset. Time limit: 16 hours. Margin for error: zero.
We are incredibly proud that Evanlite wheels powered Grzegorz Szczechla throughout this epic challenge. How do you prep gear for such an extreme attempt? Let's take a look behind the scenes.
The brutal math of open roads
To cover 620 kilometers within the 16-hour window, the math was simple—the average speed had to be at least 40 km/h. But this was on open roads. Traffic lights, busy junctions, slowing down in small towns. The cruising speed had to constantly hover between 40–50 km/h.
The route was long, and while the weather gave a helpful tailwind (around 3 m/s) for 70% of the way, the remaining 30% threw a headwind straight into the rider's face. The attempt was done on a triathlon bike, which dictated our choice of wheel setup right from the start.
The challenge for Evanlite: Aero, reliability, and… comfort
As a tech partner, we faced a tough challenge. We needed a setup that was rock-solid reliable—there’s no time for fixing flats in a race against the sun. At speeds over 40 km/h, aerodynamics take center stage. But the third factor, often overlooked in time trials, is comfort. Grzegorz had to stay tucked in the aero position for over 15 hours. A harsh, overly rigid setup would have worn him out in no time.
We opted for a full-on wind-slicing setup: an 80 mm front rim + rear disc.
A combo built to hold high speed with "ease."
Front wheel (80 mm): Built on a deep 80 mm rim, laced to a lightweight Evanlite hub with top-tier, bladed DT Aerolite spokes. With a 21 mm internal and 30 mm external width, this profile slices cleanly through the air.
Rear wheel (Evanlite Disc): A full disc wheel is a must at these speeds. Our disc is ultralight, weighing in at just 1,060 grams. Fitted with a proven 54T ratchet mechanism for instant engagement, its 21 mm internal rim width paired perfectly with the chosen rubber.
Marginal gains – an unusual tire choice
Wheels are only half the battle; the other half is what connects them to the tarmac. After deep route analysis and extensive testing, the choice fell on Continental Grand Prix TT tires in a 28c size.
On our 21 mm internal rims, the tires plumped up nicely, hitting a real-world width of 29 mm. For a time trial setup, that's wide rubber. Why this pick? It was a total game-changer for comfort. The higher air volume soaked up road buzz across Polish tarmac, keeping fatigue at bay over 620 km while keeping rolling resistance exceptionally low.
We ran the setup tubeless with Stan’s sealant. The GP TT version is lighter and faster, but noticeably less puncture-resistant than the popular GP 5000. That risk-versus-reward calculation paid off 100%—the rider crossed the finish line without a single flat.
Mind-blowing result, noble cause
The gear faced a brutal test, but the mission was accomplished in a style that will go down in Polish ultra-cycling history. The final ride time: 15 hours and 10 minutes, with an incredible average speed of 41 km/h across 620 km—way ahead of the original goal!
Curious about the hard numbers? Check out all the power and heart rate data on Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/23120167
Last but certainly not least: this wasn't just a showcase of human grit and gear engineering. The ride across Poland was for charity and has already raised over 100,000 PLN! https://zrzutka.pl/k57v67
Grzegorz, you're an absolute machine. We're thrilled that Evanlite could pitch in extra watts (and save yours) on this epic journey to the coast. Huge congrats!
Made it to the end? Don't forget your discount code "ULTRA" for 100 EUR off any wheelset in our collection.
Photo: ProjectOn / Internal media
